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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | ||
| Fate of Hezbollah's arsenal continues to divide Lebanon | ||
| 2007-11-27 | ||
| Political wrangling prevailed over Lebanon Monday amidst the absence of serious efforts to deal with the presidential crisis that has dominated the nation since midnight Friday when ex-President Emile Lahoud ended his term in office without the election of a successor. Ex-President Amin Gemayel, addressing a joint meeting of the Phalange party's politburo and central council, said that disagreement on the nation's defense strategy is the core issue blocking presidential elections. Gemayel urged Parliament speaker Nabih Berri to sponsor talks between the feuding factions on the future of Hizbullah weapons to facilitate the presidential elections set for next Friday. "I plead with Speaker Berri to issue an immediate call to the parties of national dialogue to meet as soon as possible and resume discussion from where it stopped prior to the July (2006) war, which is the defense strategy." "Reaching an understanding on this issue would provide the needed atmosphere to facilitate the election next Friday," Gemayel added. He explained that at issue is the difference on future of Hizbullah weapons. Hizbullah is the only armed political faction in Lebanon, and wants to maintain its weapons. The March 14 majority coalition calls for placing Hizbullah weapons under the Lebanese government's control to be used in defending Lebanon by a government decision, to avoid starting a war similar to the one which broke out on July 12, 2006 when Hizbullah fighters crossed the Blue Line that separates Lebanon from Israel and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. U.N. Security Council resolution 1559 of 2004 has called for disbanding all non-Lebanese and Lebanese militias, including Hizbullah, and the election of a president without foreign intervention.
He cautioned that the resulting vacuum in the top office threatens the nation's stability and even unity. "I am worried about the possible normalization of this vacuum or getting used to it," Gemayel said. "A republic without a president is a recipe to multi republics if this vacuum persisted," Gemayel warned. "We should put an end to this vacuum as soon as possible," He stressed, "the responsibility for this should be shouldered by every body, not just the Christians or Maronites." The problem, Gemayel said, is not in having many Maronite candidates, but in blocking the election process." Talks between Berri, who represents the Hizbullah-led opposition, and al-Moustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri, who represents the majority, have not been activated, which indicates the lack of efforts to revive talks between the feuding parties on achieving consensus on a presidential candidate. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea also stressed that the Middle East is going through serious developments and Lebanon should have a president to be able avoid repercussions. In the meantime, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, held a series of meetings with Christian figures, mainly ex-MPs with the aim of considering ways of rejecting the handling of presidential powers by Premier Fouad Saniora's government. The Aoun-sponsored consultations followed a strongly-worded attack by the FPM leader on Bkirki, saying the seat of Maronite Church is not the political authority in charge of the Christians. The ongoing consultations that would persist until Wednesday appear aimed at exactly supporting Aoun's pledged steps. Meanwhile, Geagea received Saudi Ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja and discussed developments in Lebanon. The Saudi Diplomat refused to talk to reporters after the discussion, but Geagea said later that Khoja did not relay to him a specific Saudi initiative, stressing that Riyadh does not interfere in Lebanon's domestic affairs.
Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra criticized Aoun's attacks on Bkirki saying the latter cannot write off a role dating back 1,500 years. Meanwhile, Sfeir received Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman at his seat in Bkirki, and the Suleiman said he informed the patriarch that efforts exerted by the army to safeguard law and order are aimed at facilitating presidential elections. The Hizbullah-led opposition warned in a statement against what it regards "continued efforts to usurp power" in reference to handling by the Saniora government of presidential authorities. Saniora, on his part, contacted spiritual leaders to explain to them that his government did not seek to control presidential powers, but was just sorting out the people's needs pending the election of a new head of state in line with the nation's constitution. Druze leader Walid Jumblat also called for continued dialogue to agree on a consensus presidential candidate. | ||
| Posted by:Fred |