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Hezbollah says March 14 Movement turns 'blind eye' to resolution of Lebanon's problems |
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Tuesday, 18 September 2007 |
Hezbollah says the ruling March 14 coalition turns a blind eye to any
solution for resolving Lebanon's crisis by rejecting Nabih Berri's proposal.
The ruling party in Lebanon is focusing on a two-thirds majority quorum rather
than a consensus candidate for the presidential election, head of Hezbollah's
Executive Council Seyyed Hashem Safieddin said on Monday.
Describing as highly dangerous the effort to muster a necessary quorum rather
than introduce a consensus candidate, Safieddin insisted that no other solution
is as viable as reaching a consensus.
He stated that those who reject every solution to Lebanon's crisis intend to
disappoint the people and give the impression that the Lebanese are incapable of
breaking the political deadlock in their country.
Berri had announced that the opposition was willing to drop its demand for a
national unity government on condition the country's feuding political parties
agreed on a consensus presidential candidate.
Lebanese parliament is due to meet on Sept. 25 to choose a successor to current
President Emile Lahoud, whose mandate expires on Nov. 24.
Walid Jumblatt, Democratic Gathering leader, clung to his rejection of Speaker
Nabih Berri's recent initiative to end the power struggle in Lebanon on Monday
in clear contradiction to earlier moves by head of Future Movement Saad
Al-Hariri, evincing thereby a major rift in the ranks of the ruling party.
Meanwhile, in his Progressive Socialist Party's Al-Anbaa newspaper, Jumblatt
warned against a consensus president and described Berri's plan as "ill-fated."
"The opposition is seeking to move forward with its goals of a coup through the
presidential elections," said Jumblatt.
He also warned that a consensus president is the return of "tutelage" to
Lebanon, a reference to the period when he and other Lebanese politicians
operated under Syrian hegemony.
"It violates democracy ... and could turn Lebanon into a field of clearing of
regional and international accounts," he said.
He listed his fears of what the consensus president might do, such as blocking
the international court to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri and the full implementation of UN Security Council
resolutions.
Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri responded to Jumblatt's statements by saying
that Jumblatt was attempting to cover up the intentions of the majority.
"[Jumblatt] is raising a dust storm to hide the true intentions behind the
presidential elections, which is useless," the speaker said in a statement faxed
to The Daily Star.
"For the 10th time," said Berri, "the issue of the international court is
outside any debate or discussions as it is under control of the UN."
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