Lebanon’s enemies will punish those who seek to end conflicts
Minister of the State for Administrative Development Ibrahim Shamseddine condemned the Wednesday night assassination of Sheikh Saleh Aridi, an official in the Lebanese Democratic Party who Shamseddine called a “peacemaker.”
In a press release issued on Thursday, Shamseddine said that the killing was further evidence that Lebanon’s enemies have no interest in peace and will punish anyone seeking to resolve the country’s conflicts. Shamseddine praised the efforts of Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and PSP leader Walid Jumblatt to bring about reconciliation that “positively affects the country.”
Shamseddine voiced his support for President Michel Sleiman’s decision to begin the national dialogue on September 16, and said it was the president’s right to assign a date. “Sleiman’s positive contributions counteract the crime and terrorism in Lebanon,” Shamseddine said, adding “this happened when Sleiman visited Syrian and when he called for the national dialogue.”