Al-Mustaqbal Calls for Dialogue, Says Talks Must Tackle Hizbullah-Related Issues

Al-Mustaqbal bloc stressed on Tuesday that national dialogue remains the best mean to reach internal consensus on pending issues in the country, adding that talks must tackle Hizbullah's weaponry.

"We stress on the importance of national dialogue as it is the best mean to reach consensus on pending issues between the country's factions,” a released statement said after the bloc's weekly meeting at the Center House.

The statement elaborated: “We support Speaker Nabih Berri's calls for dialogue as we believe in talks and communication, and we will go with the date assigned by President Michel Suleiman to discuss the cabinet's formation.”

The al-Mustaqbal MPs pointed out, however, that dialogue sessions “must be based on issues related to Hizbullah's arms and on the necessity of withdrawing its forces from Syria.”

In a televised speech he gave in the 35th memory of the disappearance of the spiritual leader Moussa al-Sadr, Berri suggested holding a five-day dialogue retreat to discuss pending issues in the country.

“I suggest to Suleiman setting a roadmap that would get the country out of the current crisis and it includes holding a five-day dialogue retreat that would discuss the formation of the cabinet and its policy statement ,” the speaker said on August 31.

The al-Mustaqbal conferees called on Suleiman and premier-designate Tammam Salam to “quickly” form a cabinet.

They explained: “Vacuum worsens the already existing political and economic problems in the country.”

The bloc also tackled Hizbullah's efforts to expand its telecommunications network in the Bekaa city of Zahle, saying that these procedures are a part of the party's adopted autonomous security measures.

“This harms Lebanon and is an indication that the party overlooks the powers of the state's bodies because it considers itself to be above all laws,” the MPs stated.

Armed Hizbullah members deployed on Sunday along the highway extending between the city's industrial zone to the Mar Charbel church in an attempt to expand party's telecommunications network.

Residents of the city protested against its actions and temporarily blocked the road in the area.

The army soon intervened and set up checkpoints in the industrial zone and security forces deployed patrols in the city, which led to Hizbullah's withdrawal from the area.

The al-Mustaqbal lawmakers continued: “Hizbullah's activities are affecting the Lebanese abroad and this is a threat to thousands of families and harms the country's reputation.”

In a separate matter, the bloc slammed the international community as powerless in what concerns its stance towards the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

"We demand clear answers from the international community on the fate of the criminals that killed their own people,” it said, referring to reports that President Bashar Assad was the party behind the chemical attack against citizens in the Damascus suburb of al-Ghouta on August 21.

Al-Mustaqbal noted that the chemical weapons used against the Syrian people “were given up under international pressure to preserve the regime in Syria.”