Safa Meets Rifi to Congratulate him despite Differences
Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa held talks with Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi to congratulate him on his appointment in Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.
According to the daily, the meeting was held on Monday morning at Rifi's residence in Ashrafieh in presence of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Col. Imad Othman and ISF Operations room chief Col. Hussam al-Tannoukhi.
Safa also contacted newly appointed Interior Minister Nuhad al-Mashnouq to congratulate him.
Sources told the newspaper that “the positive meeting was to continue the successful cabinet formation process.”
On Saturday, Rifi, who is the former Internal Security Forces chief, accused Hizbullah of obstructing efforts to form a cabinet and of obstructing the functioning of the state.
His statement was issued after Salam formed his cabinet.
“The truth is that Hizbullah is the real obstacle for the entire country,” he remarked.
He described the arms of Hizbullah as illegal, saying that the resistance no longer has any legitimate excuse to remain.
Rifi staunchly opposed Hizbullah after his retirement, the party along with the March 8 alliance strongly rejected his appointment as Interior Minister, prompting Salam to name him as Justice Minister.
Later, Rifi considered that the meeting with Safa “paved communications path that were previously shut.”
“We agreed to liberate al-Labwe – Arsal in the bekaa from any illegitimate presence and make it under the army's control,” Rifi told reporters after the first cabinet session at the Baabda Palace.
Arsal lies 12 kilometers from the border with Syria and has been used as a conduit for weapons and rebels to enter Syria, while also serving as a refuge for people fleeing the conflict that erupted in 2011.
The Lebanese army has several times seized cars loaded with arms and ammunition in the town and its outskirts.
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