It Seems They Want Reconciliation to Fail
Retired Brigadier General Wehbé Qatisha told NOW Lebanon on Tuesday that it seemed that the Marada Movement wanted reconciliation to fail.
Qatisha, who is in charge of the Akkar region for the Lebanese Forces, said, “For starters, we have been reconciled with everyone for 18 years, and we have called for reconciliations at a time we are not at odds with anyone.”
Commenting on a statement from Marada released on Tuesday, Qatisha said that “the Lebanese Forces were not three years behind in undertaking steps towards reconciliation.”
Qatisha called on Marada to “quit this complex,” and stressed “the need to bring the current conflict between the two parties to an end.”
“What do they mean by saying we were three years behind?” he asked, “Have they in the meantime made us a reconciliation offer, which we have turned down?”
Asked about the Marada statement’s assertion that “Geagea knows no emotions,” Qatisha said, “They make a living out of instigating people and stimulating their emotions. Unlike us, they have no historical political project and struggle.” He added, “What use are such declarations, now that we are seeking reconciliation?”
“They seem to be wronged uncomfortable with this reconciliation, and this may be the case with their regional and domestic allies as well,” Qatisha said, ”Therefore, they are trying to foil this project. We want reconciliation now and forever and if they want the same thing, then they are welcome [to it].”
Qatisha was asked what the LF’s opinion was on a proposed reconciliation committee that would include representatives from both parties, to which he responded: “It seems they want reconciliation to fail. We have agreed on staging the reconciliation here between Minister Franjieh and Dr. Geagea and we have welcomed General Aoun’s presence in this meeting, which will be held under the auspices of the president and Bkirki. What purpose would the creation of such committee serve then?”
Asked what the Lebanese Forces thought of the Marada’s “wish” to have former President Amin Gemayel attend the reconciliation meeting, Qatisha said, “At the outset, we have demanded that Gemayel be present, but when we opted for reconciliation, it was merely to reject violence.”
“The Lebanese Forces are, in principle, against extending the reconciliation… because we still have different political positions,” he said, before adding that “the Lebanese Forces see eye to eye with President Gemayel on all issues.”
In conclusion, Qatisha said: “We, in the Lebanese Forces, consider that reconciliation has been behind us since the 1990s. They want to renew it and we are ready to do so. However, we refuse to have reconciliation take a political flavor because the ideology of the Marada Movement is totally different from that of the Lebanese Forces.”