Bassil: FPM is Hizbullah's Ally and We Have Ability to Urge It to Withdraw from Syria
Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed Wednesday that the FPM's alliance with Hizbullah is firm as he noted that the FPM “has the ability” to ask the party to withdraw its fighters from Syria.
“The president is the ally of all Lebanese and the FPM is proudly the ally of Hizbullah,” Bassil said during an interview on al-Mayadeen television.
“Hizbullah is our ally and our understanding with them protected the country and led to the election of the president,” he added.
As for the stalled cabinet formation process, Bassil said he expects the new government to be formed before Christmas.
He also denied that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is vetoing the participation of anyone in the new cabinet.
Turning to the Syrian conflict, Bassil said: “We support the victory of the Syrian people and their choices.”
He also noted that Syrian leader Bashar Assad is “Syria's legitimate president” and that he is recognized by the United Nations.
“Syria's stability boosts Lebanon's stability,” Bassil added, pointing out that “the Syrian government's control of the areas that neighbor Lebanon contributes to ensuring a part of the country's (Lebanon's) stability.”
As for Hizbullah's controversial intervention in Syria, Bassil said “it somehow prevented the spread of terrorism to Lebanon.”
The minister also revealed that President Michel Aoun's first foreign visit will be to Saudi Arabia in order to “rectify ties between the two countries.”
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