Hariri Congratulates Rowhani, Urges Ties Not Based on 'Regional Military Alliances'
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday sent a cable of congratulations to Iran's President-elect Hassan Rowhani, hoping his election will open the door to Lebanese-Iranian relations “that are not only based on regional military alliances.”
“Your election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran was well received by countries, people and forces of moderation, that look forward to a new and positive Iranian role in consolidating stability and openness and keeping discord away from our peoples,” Hariri said.
“Your election comes at a critical stage full of challenges and changes in the Arab and Muslim worlds, which requires a distinct role for the Islamic Republic of Iran to accompany this stage towards achieving the aspirations of the peoples to freedom, justice and peace,” he added.
“We in Lebanon hope that your election would be an opportunity to launch a new vision for the Iranian leadership, based on sound and just foundations for the relations between our two countries, relations that are not only based on regional military alliances with Lebanese groups and parties outside the framework of the legitimate and official state institutions, such is the case now,” the ex-PM went on to say.
Hariri explained that these alliances “unfortunately affect Lebanon's relations with other countries, and threaten the national cohesion between the Lebanese groups.”
The former premier lauded Rohwani's remarks on rapprochement with the Arab countries.
“On this occasion, we commend your remarks that reflect your adherence to the cooperation between Iran and the Arab countries, hoping that this will lead to the improvement of the Arab-Iranian relations and their development for the benefit of our peoples,” he said.
Hariri also recalled Rowhani's “good relations” with his slain father, ex-PM Rafik Hariri.
“I cannot on this occasion but recall what I had heard from my father, Martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, about the good relations linking him to you, and the constructive dialogue that took place between you on several occasions in Paris,” Hariri added.
The moderate cleric, who won outright victory in Friday's presidential election on the hopes of millions for an end to the economic hardship caused by Western sanctions, said Monday there would be no change in Iran's longstanding alliance with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
But he said he would seek to thaw relations with the key Gulf Arab backers of the rebels fighting to oust Assad's regime for more than two years.
"The priority of my government is to strengthen relations with neighbors... the countries of the Persian Gulf and Arab ones that are of strategic importance and our brothers," Rowhani said.
"Saudi Arabia is a brother and neighbor... with which we have historic, cultural and geographical relations," he added.
In his capacity as prime minister, Hariri visited Iran in November 2010 in a bid to strengthen relations with the Islamic republic, but tensions with the Arab states, especially over Syria, and the forced collapse of his cabinet led to a deterioration in his ties with Tehran.
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