Suleiman Meets Fneish, Says Lebanon Obliged to Commit to Baabda Declaration
President Michel Suleiman discussed with Hizbullah's state minister for parliamentary affairs Mohammed Fneish the latest developments concerning the cabinet's policy statement and the Israeli raid that targeted one of the party's posts in the Bekaa town of Janta.
Suleiman voiced hope that the ministerial panel tasked with drafting a policy statement should swiftly reach an agreement over disputed issues to prevent further delay in the parliament's confidence vote, An Nahar newspaper reported.
The president, reportedly, asked Fneish to convey a message to Hizbullah's secretary-general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah that “the Baabda Declaration is no longer an ordinary document.”
“Lebanon is obliged to abide by the Baabda Declaration after it was adopted by the United Nations and the Arab league,” Suleiman said in his message to Nasrallah, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.
For his part, Fneish reiterated Hizbullah's stance, stressing that the army-people-resistance equation should be included in the ministerial statement to preserve the resistance's right to confront Israel.
An Nahar newspaper described the meeting as "positive."
The panel drafting the ministerial policy statement failed during its sixth session on Wednesday to reach agreement over the main points of contention.
The rival ministers bickered anew over the Baabda declaration and the resistance-people-army equation, failing to make any progress.
If Prime Minister Tammam Salam's government, which was announced on February 15, fails to attain the parliament's confidence it will become a caretaker cabinet.
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour said recently that the ministerial panel has reached a “satisfactory formula” regarding mentioning the Baabda Declaration in the draft.
Concerning the Israeli raid on a Hizbullah position in the border town of Janta, Fneish slammed the Jewish state in comments published in al-Joumhouria.
“Israel is an aggressor... It is a danger... and we should all be aware of its threats,” Fneish remarked.
He urged the political arch-foes to reach common grounds over the points of contention to prevent Israel from exploiting the local disputes.
“The strike is a clear indication and additional proof... that the resistance has an important role,” the minister added.
He noted that “Hizbullah's statement was clear... the resistance is ready.”
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil tasked Lebanon's envoy to the United Nations Nawaf Salam to file a complaint against Israel over the raid it waged on Lebanese territories.
Bassil had condemned the Israeli attack on Lebanon and its violation of the U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, calling on the the United Nations to commit to implementing this decision.
Suleiman had tasked the FM to collect all necessary information to prepare for filing the complaint.
Hizbullah confirmed on Wednesday that Israeli fighter jets had shelled one of its positions on the Lebanese-Syrian border on Monday.
Israel has not acknowledged the raid, but officials have confirmed a general policy of interdicting suspected arms deliveries from Syria to Hizbullah.
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