Addressing crowds who gathered in the southern coastal city of Tyre to mark 32 years since the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr, the founder of the Amal Movement, Berri hailed the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
He highlighted the close relations between the multinational force and southerners, lashing out at the “silly attacks on some of their statues.” Concerns over a possible rupture in relations between UNIFIL and southern Lebanese arose following a number of quarrels between both earlier this summer. On August 31, 1978, Sadr and his two companions Mohammad Yaqoub and Abbas Baddreddine disappeared when visiting Libya on an official invitation by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Lebanon along with the Amal Movement that is currently headed by Berri hold Gadhafi responsible for the men’s disappearance.
“Our accusation against the Libyan regime over the disappearance of Sadr and his two companions is definite; our persisting question 32 years since then is when will the Libyan regime free them?” asked Berri.
Berri called for raising the issue of Sadr in the UN, saying that a decision by the Lebanese prosecutor that accused the Libyan regime had been issued few months ago.
“We have referred the issue to the Justice Council in Lebanon and what is demanded is the issuance of the indictment as soon as possible,” he added.
He noted that Lebanese Shiites decided to form their own resistance against Israel only when they became exposed to Israeli threats, because the Lebanese government was refraining from protecting them.
“However, we agreed on the defense strategy and embraced the tripartite formula of the army, resistance and people so that no one will say that we are monopolizing the right to die in defense of our country,” he said.
“Resistance is a Lebanese need and necessity,” he added.
He criticized attempts to portray the Shiites in Lebanon as a source of worry, denying they had any plans to rebel against the Lebanese government.
“I say for the thousandth time that the project of [building] a state in Lebanon and its necessity reflected a Shiite interest and even a Shiite belief and it is the absence of the state that left Shiites deprived,” said Berri.
“Sometimes they say we are against the Taif [Accord] and in others against Arabism; I stress that we are the guarantee of Lebanon’s independence and Arabism,” he added.
The Taif Accord put an end to Lebanon’s 1975-1990 Civil War.
Fears of tensions between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon mounted in wake of armed clashes last week in Beirut. Three people were killed in battles between members of Hizbullah and others from the Association of Charitable Islamic Projects, a Sunni faction better-known as Al-Ahbash.
Concerning the incident, Berri called on the judiciary to carry on with investigations and punish those involved away from any sectarian instincts.
He said that Lebanese authorities should implement the constitution and the law without being selective.
“It is requested to go ahead with the Taif agreement and I find no possibility to come up with another agreement,” he added.
Separately, Berri urged the Lebanese judiciary to look into evidence presented by Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah regarding the assassination of late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
During a news conference earlier in August, Nasrallah screened video clips of alleged Israeli drone surveillance footage intercepted by Hizbullah that showed routes Hariri used to travel, including the area where he was killed on February 14, 2005.
He also called upon the judiciary to investigate false witnesses who he said have derailed the investigation into the murder.
“The Lebanese judiciary has accused four witnesses, so why exempt others if documents proving their involvement are here [in Lebanon]?” asked Berri.
The speaker said that Amal’s ministers would “liberate” it from obstacles preventing it from rendering services, especially electricity. He said improving the electricity sector need not await the approval of the 2010 budget. “Many countries are ready to give money,” he said. Berri noted that successive cabinets have spent $11 billion above the ceiling of the last approved budget in 2005.
He called for holding an economic conference to find a way out of Lebanon’s economic and social crises.
The speaker also highlighted the need to maintain the best relations between Lebanon and Syria. “It [Syria] represents our way to the Arab depth and the relation of [one] track and fate,” he said.
Berri voiced doubt that the direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israeli would lead to an effective result, urging the Palestinians to sit together, undergo self evaluation and unite their ranks, since Israel aims to Judaize Palestine.
Berri also congratulated Iran for the inauguration of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, and thanked the Iranians for their contribution to reconstruction efforts following Israel’s 2006 war against Lebanon, along with their readiness to offer weapons to the army and help in exploration for oil.
No comments:
Post a Comment