Jumblatt, Geagea criticize opposition over protests
Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt warned on Friday against exploiting last Sunday”s riots to weaken the military and security establishments, which he said remain the last bastions for preserving civil peace and internal stability. He said the Winograd Commission”s report on Israel”s conduct during the 2006 war with Lebanon undermined charges of Lebanese complicity with the Jewish state during the war.
“This report came to refute all previous accusations that spoke of complicity by some Lebanese parties with the Israeli enemy during the war – accusations on the basis of which political and media campaigns accused national leaders who have a long and illustrious history of resistance with treason and collaboration,” Jumblatt said.
He accused Hizbullah and opposition factions of “programmed blocking of all institutions, targeting the Constitution and prolonging the presidential void.” He said such obstruction was tantamount to a “war of attrition” against the army and only deepened the political divide and escalated tensions.
“How can they praise the victory against Israel”s aggression and refrain from confronting organized assassinations carried out by the Syrian regime?” Jumblatt asked.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused the opposition of planning to paralyze all the country”s constitutional institutions to perpetuate a vacuum and create chaos in the country in order to restore Syrian dominance.
“I am certain of the other side”s strategy which is very clear now in view of developments … We can no longer distinguish between the March 8 and Syrian positions,” Geagea said. He said that March 8 forces do not want the blocking third in a new national unity government, nor do they want additional seats in Cabinet, but only want to restore the country to Syrian domination.
Geagea said that Hizbullah”s priority is a broad Middle East alliance to enable it to fight battles according to its own agenda. “This party”s priority is not electricity or bread for citizens, because if this was their concern they would have taken better care when launching military operations or incurring wars on Lebanon,” Geagea said.
He said that in the past, Arab differences had an impact on the Lebanon, but that today the opposite is true.
“We see that [inter-Lebanese] differences are reflected in the Arab League: At its last [foreign ministers”] meeting its members were split between March 14 and March 8 supporters,” Geagea said.
The March 14 general secretariat issued a statement Friday in which it offered condolences to the families of those killed in last Sunday”s protests. It warned against attacking the army and added that the military, which it said had proved its worth in the battle against militants at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp and “resisting Israeli occupation,” remains the national institution that guarantees civil peace.
As ongoing military and judicial investigations into the events of last Sunday dominated local headlines, doubt is being cast on Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa”s imminent return to Beirut.
The Central News Agency said on Friday that Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun “advised” Moussa to delay his return to Beirut until the results of investigations into last Sunday”s tragic events are out.
Development and Liberation Bloc MP Ali Hassan Khalil on Friday met Free Patriotic Movement official Gebran Bassil and discussed the political repercussions of last Sunday”s events and Moussa”s expected visit.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Friday chaired a ministerial meeting which discussed economic matters and the impact of the recent storms on the provision of electrical power to various parts of the country.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the Arab initiative is the only solution left for Lebanon, as US and French initiatives have failed. “The Arab plan is the only choice at present for reaching a solution in Lebanon and preventing it from entering into the unknown,” Mubarak told the Italian daily La Republica. He said he hoped “an inter-Lebanese agreement is reached and a president is elected.”
French presidential spokes-man David Martinon said France “is waiting for February 11 for the election of a new president.” Martinon, quoted in An-Nahar, said he hoped this date would be respected. He reiterated France”s support for the Arab initiative and the efforts of Moussa.
Martinon also condemned last month”s bombing in Beirut which killed ISF intelligence officer Captain Wissam Eid: “After the targeting of Parliament and the Lebanese Army, now the ISF, which is playing an important role in preserving Lebanon”s stability, is targeted.”
Martinon also denounced last Sunday”s clashes in Shiyyah. He also reiterated support for the Lebanese government and armed forces in their efforts to preserve Lebanon”s stability.
French Representative to the United Nations Maurice Ripert said that the UN is capable of doing many things to ameliorate the situation in Lebanon. Ripert said that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, after visiting Lebanon eight times, “has seen some advances.”
“Yet things are not over, as there are still some obstacles being caused by one person and one group,” Ripert said, adding that “the situation is difficult.” Ripert reiterated French support for the Arab initiative, calling on all parties to accept it. He added that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has taken a very clear stand regarding Franco-Syrian relations.
“We have explained to the Syrians that they will benefit much more if the situation in Lebanon is stable. They didn”t show any interest, and they are the ones who stopped dialogue with us,” Ripert said, adding that France will do its utmost to prevent civil war in Lebanon.