Hariri: I Will Bear Responsibility of My Solidarity with Syrian People
Former Prime Minsiter Saad Hairi stressed on Tuesday that the Syrian revolution will triumph.
He declared: “I will bear the responsibility of my solidarity with the Syrian people.”
He made his statements during a ceremony at BIEL in downtown Beirut marking the seventh anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
“I am completely responsible for the previous phase in Lebanon. I am responsible for making concessions at one point and refusing to make concessions at another,” said Hariri.
“I am responsible for accepting the premiership and later leaving it,” he continued.
“I am ready to bear the responsibility of preventing strife between the Lebanese, Sunnis and Shiites in particular,” he added.
“I have borne this responsibility in the past and will do so again today,” he declared.
“As part of the March 14 movement, we are responsible for preventing strife and paving the way for freedom and dignity,” he continued.
“Lebanon is headed towards a new political phase due to the Arab Spring and the beginning of the end of the Syrian regime,” noted Hariri, who delivered his speech from his Paris residence.
Addressing the Syrian revolution, he said: “The rise of the democratic system in Syria will fortify Lebanon’s democracy.”
He therefore voiced the Mustaqbal movement’s readiness to cooperate with the Syrian National Council, “which we believe is Syria’s hope of building a new democratic system.”
Addressing Shiite fears that the victory of the Syrian revolt will pave the way for a Sunni campaign against them, he said: “We do not hold our Shiite brothers responsible for the assassination of Rafik Hariri.”
“We have chosen the path of justice, not revenge,” he stressed.
“Weapons do not have a sect or identity, but the reality in Lebanon is that a certain political party possesses arms …sects in Lebanon do not belong to this party or that,” he noted.
“Only the plan to construct the state should unite us and we are all destined to respect the state,” he stressed.
“Israel is our only enemy and let us defend our country together and be victorious for Lebanon,” Hariri remarked.
“The arms should only be directed against Israel,” he stressed.
He therefore renewed his call for Hizbullah to review its position on Special Tribunal for Lebanon “because protecting the accused will not eliminate the indictment.”
The indictment, released in August 2011, accused four Hizbullah members of being involved in Rafik Hariri’s February 2005 assassination.
The party has repeatedly refused to cooperate with the tribunal.
“Hizbullah’s insistence on protecting the accused will only emphasize its involvement in the assassination and the party should not fall victim to such a trap,” declared Hariri.
Addressing the crowd at BIEL, he said: “I am confident that I will be among you in Beirut soon.”
“Justice will prevail and the Arab Spring will blossom,” he stated.
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