Hariri before Massive Tripoli Rally: Weapons Create Strife, Every Project Outside State Has Failed
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed on Friday that any project outside the state has failed.
He said at a popular rally before tens of thousands of supporters at the end of his three-day visit to Tripoli: “Every sect in Lebanon that has pursued its own agenda has failed … all agendas established alongside the state have only brought about tragedy and destruction in Lebanon.”
“I came to the North to thank all the Lebanese who participated in the March 13 rally last Sunday and to tell the world that we oppose the hegemony of the weapons over Lebanon,” he stated.
“This time and like 2005, you rallied demanding nothing but freedom and justice,” he added.
“I am confident that you won’t allow those carrying weapons try to eliminate justice,” he declared.
“Nothing can protect us and Lebanon except the state. The hegemony of the arms is aimed at obstructing the state, eliminating justice, and enforcing crime as a means for pursuing political life,” the premier continued.
“We are standing before two choices. We either choose the state or the hegemony of the arms … and after Sunday’s rally, you have clearly chosen the state to achieve justice and uncover the truth in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri,” he said.
Addressing the Shiites in Lebanon, Hariri stated: “Prominent Shiite Imams have stated that any project outside the state’s authority is doomed to fail.”
“The Shiites know that anyone calling for the rise of the state and placing the arms under state control cannot be a traitor,” he noted.
“Is it possible that this city be accused of treason after it presented martyrs from the Lebanese army when red lines did not stop it from combating terrorism that struck in the heart of the North?” he asked.
Hariri added: “We will no longer tolerate accusations of treason against whoever wants the rise of a strong state.”
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