Suleiman Urges Nasrallah to Stop Fighting in Syria, Says Will Challenge Long Extension of Parliament's Mandate
President Michel Suleiman revealed on Wednesday that he will challenge extending the parliament's term “if it exceeded few months,” urging Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah to refrain from involving Lebanon in Syria's war.
"The elections will be held by October and I will challenge the constitutionality of extending the parliament's term before the Constitutional Council,” the President stated in an interview on Future television.
He elaborated saying that the MPs “will of course agree on extending the parliament's term because it will save them the cost of the electoral campaign.”
“But my main concern is applying and protecting the constitution.”
Suleiman said he wants the lawmakers to cut the extended term short and hold a parliamentary elections once they agree on an electoral law.
Commenting on the cabinet's formation, he revealed: “I support the formation of a council of ministers that takes up the task of holding the parliamentary elections.”
“I do not mind if the cabinet was formed of non-political figures,” he noted.
Speaker Nabih Berri called on Wednesday for a parliamentary session on Friday to discuss the extension of its mandate as an only article on its agenda.
“The current situation in the country compelled the extension of the parliament's tenure,” Berri said later during Wednesday's parliamentary meeting with lawmakers.
He pointed out that the parliament’s term will be extended to Nov, 20 2014.
Tackling the Syrian war, the president wished the Hizbullah chief would not involve the resistance in the neighboring country's ongoing turmoil, announcing also that he does not support opening the Golan front.
"It is the resistance of Lebanon, not of Syria. It was supported by all Lebanese and backed in the ministerial statement. I hope Nasrallah abides by this,” Suleiman expressed.
“The army-people-resistance equation should prevent Hizbullah from getting involved in Syria's war. The resistance should go back to being protected by the state.”
The president revealed his relationship with the party is not deteriorating: “My role as a president is to correct paths.”
He said Hizbullah should not be revealing that it wants to open the Golan front.
“Who guarantees that Israel does not attack Lebanon?,” he asked.
Suleiman assured that he did not stab Syrian President Bashar Assad in the back: “I wish Syria peace because Lebanon breaths through the neighboring country.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced on Thursday that 104 Hizbullah members had been killed in Syria since last autumn.
Hizbullah combatants have become increasingly involved in Syria's conflict, fighting alongside President Assad's forces.
Nasrallah said before that his party's involvement in Syria's war aimed at defending 13 Syrian villages along the border where Lebanese Shiites live, and the Sayyeda Zeinab shrine, revered by Shiites around the world.
But on Saturday, however, the Hizbullah leader pointed out that Syria is “the backbone of the resistance, assuring that he will not let this bone break.
On his visit to the Bekaa town of Arsal, the president explained that he singled this incident out because it differs from the ongoing clashes in (the northern city of)Tripoli and from rockets falling on the (the Bekaa's) Hermel region.
“A checkpoint was attacked in Arsal and it reminds us of the terrorism of (the northern Palestinian refugees camp of) Nahr al-Bared,” he remarked.
Suleiman also assured during the interview that stability will not be shaken in the country, saying that partnership is a guarantee for Lebanon's stability.
“Small incidents taking place do not mean that the country's stability is under a threat.”
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