Harb refutes start of new presidential term with injured civilians
MP Boutros Harb expressed his regret over Monday night’s clashes. “The people promised themselves a new, different atmosphere with the election of a new president,” he noted. “Therefore, we ask all political leaders to remember the law which prohibits the use of arms.”
Harb said he could understand the justification of arms-use for liberation of the land and people, and for defense against the enemy, but could not understand the use of weapons to celebrate the speech of a political leader.
He noted that the defense arms would be discussed in detail at a future dialogue table.
After meeting with the Greek Ambassador to Lebanon, Harb called on Lebanese political leaders to contribute to an atmosphere of calm and cooperation, an opportunity that should not be missed.
He also denounced the start of the new president’s term with the injury of Lebanese citizens by celebratory arms after Amal and Hezbollah gunmen opened fire and hurled rocks in the direction of Tariq al-Jedideh and Corniche al-Mazraa on Monday night, following Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s address in Beirut’s southern suburbs on the 8th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from South Lebanon.
Harb said he had expected Nasrallah’s speech on Monday “to be an occasion to give the impression of a new atmosphere, but … the Lebanese did not feel that the speech matched the atmosphere on the president’s first day in office,” especially as newly elected President Michel Sleiman’s inaugural oath revealed a trend of moderation that contributed to state-building and the restoration of Lebanese institutions.
“Unfortunately, Hassan Nasrallah’s speech did not allow this feeling to last,” he added.
Harb said he was willing to participate in the new cabinet under the auspices of Sleiman if requested.