Hizbullah Slams Ban's 'Unjust' Remarks, Vows to Continue Protecting Lebanon
Hizbullah on Thursday hit back at U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon over statements contained in his annual report on the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559.
“It is not something new for the U.N. secretary general to take unjust and unfair stances in his analysis of the situation in Lebanon, especially in terms of holding Hizbullah responsible for all the problems in Lebanon,” the party said in a communiqué.
“This is the nature of the mission assigned to him by the U.S. administration and some Western governments, which he is carrying out very precisely instead of performing his role … in achieving security and peace in the world.”
Ban on Wednesday called on Syria to help Lebanon in transforming Hizbullah from an “armed militia” into a political party.
"The existence and activities of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias continue to pose a threat to the stability of the country and the region,” read Ban's report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, which was adopted in 2004 and calls for "the disbanding and disarmament" of all factions in Lebanon.
Hizbullah argues that its powerful arsenal of weapons is necessary to deter Israel.
The armed party has repeatedly warned Lebanese leaders that its arms are not open to discussion.
Hizbullah fought a month-long war with Israel in 2006 during which it fired more than 4,000 rockets on the Jewish state.
Israel estimates that Hizbullah has since stockpiled more than 40,000 rockets, some of which could reach major Israeli population centers.
Palestinian factions inside refugee camps across the country, which are off-limits to the Lebanese army, are also armed.
“The U.N. secretary general’s latest stance clearly shows that he is blatantly on the side of the Zionists who are violating Lebanon’s security and stability,” said Hizbullah in its communiqué.
The party accused Ban of justifying Israel’s “crimes and terrorist practices while condemning Lebanon’s preservation of its strength and immunity in the face of this blatant aggression.”
It also said Ban “relied on reports written by Terje Roed-Larsen,” U.N. Secretary-General's envoy on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559.
Hizbullah described Larsen as “the U.N. official in service of the Zionist media structure.”
It accused Ban of animosity against “the Resistance, Lebanon, Arabs and all the just causes in the world,” vowing to continue to “protect Lebanon and preserve its dignity according to the golden army-people-Resistance formula.”
Earlier Thursday, Hizbullah MP Hussein al-Moussawi also lashed out at Ban over his report.
Moussawi said he was not “surprised by Ban Ki-moon’s statements, because the latter is part of the American-Zionist alliance which has always targeted mujahid peoples.”
“Such reports represent an attack against our people’s right to resist occupation and achieve full independence,” Moussawi added, accusing the U.N. chief of attempting to “incite sedition among the Lebanese and to support Israel’s hostility and cover up its crimes.”
“We remind the U.N. secretary general that arms of the Resistance were necessitated by the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the violation of our country’s land by the racist, usurper entity (Israel) since 1948.
Israel “is still until this moment violating our airspace, water and land, while the successive U.N. chiefs – and you are one of them – have stood idly by in the face of aggressions and occupations,” Moussawi said, addressing Ban.
“Enough of your submission to the American tyrant and the Zionist criminal.”
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