Hariri: Justification Attempted Today for Shameful Arab League Vote Simply Unacceptable

Former premier Saad Hariri on Sunday said “the justification attempted today for Lebanon's shameful vote in the Arab League is simply unacceptable,” in a clear reference to the remarks voiced earlier in the day by President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati.

“Those claiming to want to keep Lebanon neutral and shielded from Syria's repercussions have thrown the country in the middle of the storm and on the wrong side -- the side of murder, dictatorship and anti-Arab identity,” Hariri said on the social networking website Twitter.

“They will be judged by the Lebanese and the Arabs and by history for their immoral and subservient abandonment of all national and human dignity,” he tweeted in English.

“Despite the actions of this shameful government, we will forever remain Lebanese Arabs, democrats and freedom lovers,” he added.

Addressing the Arab League’s recent suspension of Syria’s membership over its regime’s unrelenting crackdown on dissent, Suleiman said Sunday that Lebanon rejects that any Arab country be isolated.

“Isolation cuts off means for dialogue and no Syrian must feel that he is no longer an Arab,” he stated, calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to “implement the Arab League initiative.”

Lebanon supports democracy and it does not support the pursuit of political goals through violence, the president added.

Miqati, for his part, said “Lebanon’s position at the Arab League stemmed from historical and geographic considerations that we know our Arab brothers are aware of.”

“We have ignored pressures and set stability and averting strife as our goals,” Miqati continued.

Asked by a Twitter user about the fate of the Syrian regime after the latest Arab decision, Hariri said: “They have lost legitimacy and now they will pay the price.”

Asked whether he believed that a “peaceful solution” could still be reached to the Syrian crisis in order to avoid a possible “regional war,” Hariri said: “There is no regional war, it’s just to scare people,” noting that such a scenario could be avoided if the Syrian regime stepped down.

On the other hand, Hariri ruled out calling for unity between Lebanon and Syria should a “moderate Sunni regime” rise to power in the neighboring country.

“We have our sovereignty and independence. I am proud to be Lebanese,” the former premier answered to the question.