Hariri Proposes Roadmap to 'Protect Lebanon': Electing New President a National Priority and We Reject Parliamentary Term Extension

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday called for “immediately” electing a new president and holding parliamentary polls, as part of a roadmap that aims at “protecting Lebanon.”

Hariri also blasted Hizbullah, slamming “any group that sends its youth into perish as a terrorist group.”

"For years, we said Lebanon is in the heart of the storm and that all officials and leaders must take national stances. Today we are living what is happening in the Arab world and we are witnessing a dangerous chapter of divisions, sectarian conflicts, and the fall of political regimes that were fertile for the growth of terrorism, sedition and civil wars,” Hariri said in a speech he gave at the annual Iftar of al-Mustaqbal Movement.

“Objectivity and honesty require acknowledging that it would be difficult to isolate Lebanon completely from these dangers,” he noted.

But national duty requires us not to give up to this reality and consider that falling into the abyss is a destiny, Hariri stressed, adding that the “Lebanese need a roadmap which prioritizes national interest and stability.”

The first step in the former PM's roadmap includes electing a new president and ending the vacuum at the country's top post.

“This is a national priority,” Hariri considered.

“Secondly, (the roadmap includes) forming a new cabinet that is similar to the current one. The cabinet, alongside the new president, will rule in the coming phase and hold the parliamentary elections,” he added.

“Thirdly, Hizbullah's withdrawal from the Syrian war. And fourthly, setting up a national comprehensive plan to confront terrorism in all its forms. This is a national duty that is the responsibility of the state, not of any sect or party.”

Hariri also called for agreeing on an emergency plan to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis “to prevent dragging Lebanon into the Syrian crisis whether on the security, social or economic levels.”

As well, he urged preventing the extension of the parliament's term, but remarked that parliamentary polls should come after electing a new president.

“The entryway to parliamentary elections is electing a president today before tomorrow because polls without a president means a resigned cabinet and the prevention of forming a new council of ministers. Who will sign decrees and hold consultations then?”

“To get accustomed to the absence of a president is a danger that threatens the presidency. The (Lebanese) president is the only Christian leader in the Islamic world and vacuum is against the formula that the Lebanese have agreed on,” he explained.

Hariri indirectly rejected Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun's proposal of electing a president by the people.

“Any attempt to override national consensus and the Taif Agreement is a step into the unknown that would further complicate things and cause more divisions and contribute to vacuum,” the al-Mustaqbal Movement's head said.

He assured that his party does “not have a veto against anyone (for taking office).”

He elaborated: “We will provide quorum regardless of the elections' results. We (al-Mustaqbal bloc) contribute to the election of a president but we don't decide on it. Christian consensus is the decisive factor in this regard and we agree on their nominee without any reservation.”

“We cannot stand idly by regarding the obstruction of the presidential election because there is no consensus and we will kick off dialogue with our March 14 allies and other parties to end the vacuum as soon as possible.”

Waiting for regional developments to decide on the presidency harms equal power sharing that was established in the Taif Agreement, Hariri warned.

“And we will not find a substitute for the Agreement no matter how circumstances changed,” he pointed out.

In a separate matter, Hariri reiterated calls for Hizbullah's withdrawal from the Syrian war and highlighted again the official bodies' role in safeguarding the country's security and stability.

“We consider any group that involves the youth in perish and in explosions to be a terrorist group and the enemy of Lebanon,” he stated.

And the state is the party responsible for protecting citizens and for prosecuting terrorists, Hariri said, adding that confronting terrorism with tools other than the state's is a “foolish confrontation that involves two groups; terrorists and Hizbullah.”

He also assured that the Sunnis of Lebanon are concerned, like the rest of the Lebanese, with fighting terrorism, preventing its expansion, and rejecting its slogans.

“Any talk about the presence of an environment that encourages the growth of terrorist cells among Sunnis is rejected and aims at justifying the participation in the Syrian war,” he noted.

Hariri had started his Friday speech by holding the international community “morally and humanly responsible for covering up for Israel's massacres in the Gaza Strip,” renewing calls “for immediately stopping the aggression and find a way to enable the Palestinian people to have an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

S.D.B.

Y.R.

Timeline
  • 18 July 2014, 20:55

    Hariri: You want to fight ISIL and al-Qaida and prevent the expansion of terrorism into Lebanon. Then come join the roadmap to prevent chaos and allow Lebanon not only to triumph over terrorism like in Nahr al-Bared, but also to witness economic growth and deal with the electricity and water crises.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:54

    Hariri: Let everyone know that those who have committed a crime against Tripoli and its people are wanted by the law and those pressuring for the release of the perpetrators are exposing their role in these wrongdoings. This time I will not give away any names.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:53

    Hariri: Some are trying to portray the security plan as one against Sunnis in Lebanon. Yes there are some rejected violations committed by some bodies and they are being dealt with. My stance is clear; we reject any arbitrary arrest and any violation of human rights. Any person responsible for this must be held accountable.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:52

    Hariri: We consider any group that involves the youth in perish and in explosions to be a terrorist group and the enemy of Lebanon. The Sunnis of Lebanon are concerned, like the rest of the Lebanese, with fighting terrorism, preventing its expansion, and rejecting its slogans. Any talk about the presence of an environment that encourages the growth of terrorist cells among Sunnis is rejected and aims at justifying the participation in the Syrian war.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:51

    Hariri: Everyday we are witnessing Syrian aerial bombardment of Lebanese territories.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:50

    Hariri: Confronting terrorism with tools other than the state's is a stupid confrontation that involves two groups; terrorists and Hizbullah. Hizbullah has become part of a defense strategy sanding by (Syrian President) Bashar Assad who only cares about staying in power and killing the people of Syria.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:49

    Hariri: If Hizbullah becomes part of a national project in face of terrorism then this is a good thing, but being part of the Iran-Maliki-Assad triangle is a burden on Lebanon.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:48

    Hariri: Once again the state is the party responsible for protecting citizens and for prosecuting terrorists. This is what the army, the Internal Security Forces and the General security are doing.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:44

    Hariri: Waiting for regional developments to decide on the presidency harms equal power sharing that was established in the Taif Agreement. And we will not find a substitute for the Agreement no matter how circumstances changed.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:43

    Hariri: We cannot stand idly by regarding the obstruction of the presidential election because there is no consensus and we will kick off dialogue with our March 14 allies and other parties to end the vacuum as soon as possible.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:42

    Hariri: We informed Patriarch al-Rahi and our allies of our talks and about considering presidential vacuum the biggest danger threatening Lebanon, its existence and democratic system.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:40

    Hariri: We do not have a veto against anyone and we will provide quorum regardless of the elections' results. We contribute to the election of a president but we don't decide on it. Christian consensus is the decisive factor and we agree on their nominee without any reservation.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:39

    Hariri: Any attempt to override national consensus and the Taif Agreement is a step into the unknown that would further complicate things and cause more divisions and contribute to vacuum.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:39

    Hariri: To get accustomed to the absence of a president is a danger that threatens the presidency. The president is the only Christian leader in the Islamic world and the vacuum is against the formula that the Lebanese have agreed on.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:37

    Hariri: But the entryway to parliamentary elections is electing a president today before tomorrow because polls without a president mean an acting cabinet and the prevention of forming a new council of ministers. Then who will sign decrees and hold consultations?

  • 18 July 2014, 20:35

    Hariri: Sixth, avoiding the extension of the parliament's term.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:35

    Hariri: Fifth, agreeing on an emergency plan to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis to prevent dragging Lebanon into the Syrian crisis whether on the security, social or economic levels.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:34

    Hariri: Third, Hizbullah's withdrawal from the Syrian war. And fourth, setting up a national comprehensive plan to confront terrorism in all its forms. This is a national duty that is the responsibility of the state, not of any sect or a party.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:34

    Hariri: Second, forming a new cabinet that is similar to the current one. The cabinet, alongside the new president, will rule in the coming phase and hold the parliamentary elections.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:33

    Hariri: The roadmap to protect Lebanon includes the following steps in our opinion; first, electing a new president and ending the vacuum as it is a national priority.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:33

    Hariri: The Lebanese need a roadmap which prioritizes national interest and stability.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:32

    Hariri: National duty requires us not to give up to this reality and consider that falling into the abyss is a destiny.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:31

    Hariri: For years, we said Lebanon is in the heart of the storm and that all officials and leaders must take national stances. Today we are living what is happening in the Arab world and we are witnessing a dangerous chapter of divisions, sectarian conflicts, and the fall of political regimes that were fertile for the growth of terrorism, sedition and civil wars.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:30

    Hariri: Objectivity and honesty require acknowledging that it would be difficult to isolate Lebanon completely from the dangers, and establishing security and economic sieges to protect it from these dangers, especially with Hizbullah's participation in the Syrian war.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:29

    Hariri: Many Arab countries, among them Lebanon, are suffering from intolerance and the rejection of God's teachings. But you in this country are resilient in your political, moral and religious role and siding with the values of moderation, openness and forgiveness. These are the true meanings of the holy month of Ramadan.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:28

    Hariri: The international community is morally and humanly held responsible for covering up for Israel's massacres and the settlement and this silence will remove any hope of all initiatives for peace and pave the way for new waves of violence, extremism and instability. This makes us renew calls for stopping the aggression immediately and find a way to enable the Palestinian people to have an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

  • 18 July 2014, 20:27

    Ex-PM Hariri in a speech during Al-Mustaqbal Movement's annual Iftar: Our brothers in Gaza are facing a wrongful aggression while the international community has only called for self-restraint and has not taken practical steps to stop the massacre.

Comments 29
Thumb lebanon_first 18 July 2014, 20:39

Hariri and Salam are the examples of moderation and respect of the state amongst Sunnites. I wish our Lebanese shia leaders were like them.

Missing greatpierro 18 July 2014, 22:32

We would wish too that aoun would opt for moderation and respect the state institutions

Thumb Tony.Farris 18 July 2014, 23:40

Rustom Ghazali was your HizbCocaine supporter, why you want to pin it on M14? typical $2 propagandized.

Thumb cedre 19 July 2014, 03:15

I love ft's stories and theories. He doesnt believe them himself but he has talent to tell them, adding each time that little magic detail.
All blame on m14 and sunnis like usual...
Is lying not haram in ramadan ft ?

Thumb cedre 19 July 2014, 03:17

'hariri-induced debt' priceless
I wish they hadnt done so much for the economy, army and institutions.
They would get more respect. Poverty is a good teacher. It keeps idiot quiet as well...

Missing maroun 19 July 2014, 06:10

at least they have seen the light and changed there stance ..something that can not be said of you M8 traitors...

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 19 July 2014, 07:00

Are we going to hear this nonsense all the time. Lebanon was moving toward zero deficit and we would have likely reached it was it not for the Hizb, its wars and its storming of Beirut. This caused close to 100 billions of dollars in lost investments and hundreds of thousands of jobs. So Lebanese and especially supporters of M8 wants the government to continue to provide services for free or discounted prices, bloat government payroll with unnecessary employees and still many do not want to pay taxes or bills. At the same time supporting militias that are driving investors out and that are paralyzing the decision making. So no: m8 is responsible for the economic disaster we are in. Lebanon was on the right track and you muck it up.

Thumb geha 19 July 2014, 08:18

to all blind m8 supporters:
- I suggest to those who know how to read to check this link: http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/876929/les-debordements-du-role-du-hezbollah-remis-sur-le-tapis.html
- a concise study that really explains the current situation and the positions of each and every player on the scene.
- if there are Lebanese people among m8, then they should realize who is really driving the country towards destruction.
as well, they should realize who are the extremists and who are the moderates in this country starting with the extremist Iranians hizbushaitan.

Thumb cedre 20 July 2014, 04:10

ft, be a man once in ur sad life and admit that the only sunnis u can stand are the ones bowing to ur zionist mullahs...

Thumb cash.puppet 18 July 2014, 20:49

Lek wen ba3do 3ayish hayda with the two state solution. He sounds exactly like one of the Israeli spokespeople with that nonsense. Wake up idiot the two state solution is a farce, justice and equality or no peace

Thumb lebanon_first 18 July 2014, 21:00

ya hariri. if u say 4th point is to withdraw HA from syria, you can be sure that HA will never allow 1,2,3 to happen.

Thumb EagleDawn 18 July 2014, 21:22

Harriri speaks of moderation, co-existence, development, and education while nasrallah speaks of war, death, jihad, and fake resistance.

Thumb galaxy 19 July 2014, 10:14

..flamethrower... , seriously do you have another life apart from posting. Any article I open to read some intelligent news or comments, I see you filling the forum with the same old hate filled vindictive comments. Man, get a life!

Thumb Tony.Farris 18 July 2014, 21:34

your brothers are terrorist...

Thumb Tony.Farris 18 July 2014, 21:37

Lebanese are not Arab, they're Phoenician speaking Arabic. lol

Default-user-icon Roflam Shango (Guest) 18 July 2014, 23:02

How about a plan from cheikh Saad al-Haribi Telteyn al-Marajil about his own return? Now this should be a start instead of cheikh al-Haribi attempting to tackle plans that are so complicated and almost unachievable especially from a political midget and a gofer such as he.

Thumb Tony.Farris 18 July 2014, 23:45

+1 M11er
FT (with many forehead DOTS) is an opportunist like his Iranian slave.

Thumb Senescence 19 July 2014, 00:27

Hariri's getting wiser. I like that.

Thumb galaxy 19 July 2014, 10:15

thank you, now I am not fooled.

Thumb cedre 19 July 2014, 03:20

didnt they tell u that Phoenicianism was dead ?
ever heard of dna maps ? Y chromosomes ? mtDNA ?

Thumb geha 19 July 2014, 08:20

whatever you decide guys: phenicians or arabs, the Lebanese people are not farsi.

Thumb nickjames 19 July 2014, 14:43

Saad Hariri is naive, unlike his father. To prove that, he can barely read Arabic. Everyone has seen him speak at Parliament when he was PM. He lives in exile, he's scared of Hezbollah. However, a lot of the points in his speech were right. We need to elect a president and new parliament, we cannot extend Parliament's again. Hezbollah needs to withdraw from Syria, and help the state confront terrorism instead of inviting more terrorism. And we need to come up with some plan to handle the refugees, water, and electricity crises. It's time to take care of our own country instead of being a playground for others.

Thumb EagleDawn 19 July 2014, 15:55

Nasrallah speaks great arabic and?

Thumb ado.australia 19 July 2014, 18:09

nickjames. I agree with this comment of yours... 100%

Thumb nickjames 19 July 2014, 14:43

Parliament's term* again

Thumb ado.australia 19 July 2014, 16:09

cedre... who told you Phoenicians are dead? search national geographic's research into genealogy. They identified Phoenician dna and have identified that its most prevalent in modern lebanese. In fact Lebanese are so uniquely common in their genes that they can identify if you are lebanese or iranian or greek or sardinian etc. Most lebanese are identified with their % of Mediterranean, north western asian (arab or persian), and European ancestry.

Beyond that... its clear that Lebanese are unique and different to iraqis, gulf arabs or Egyptians and even syrians... Language, food and culture is unique with only our religious sect the main barrier to a strong independent nationality.

Thumb cedre 20 July 2014, 04:12

ado, i didnt say we were arabs, we are levantines mixed with many people, but then, syrians and egyptians are not arabs as well...

Thumb nickjames 19 July 2014, 17:26

Nasrallah is not naive like Hariri. No one in Lebanon intimidates Nasrallah. He can even start giving speeches in Farsi and no one will do shit about it because he has all the weapons. Hariri on the other hand just has his father's money; all he can do is try to say the right things

Thumb ado.australia 19 July 2014, 18:22

But this one I don't... Nasrallah cant start making speeches in farsi. If he did with the same arrogance you say that no one can do anything about it then Nasrallah would be making a grave mistake. What protects Hezbollah is its Lebanese identity. Shiites of Lebanon are Lebanese and as soon as they portray otherwise than Lebanese cover will disappear.

All the weapons in the world will not win if the rest of the Lebanese are united against. The LF were the most powerful military in lebanon and lost when they turned against their own. Aoun's army the same. The biggest weakness to Lebanon is not shiite and sunni but Christian disunity. Thats why Geagea and Aoun's conflict is more destructive to the republic of Lebanon than this foreign muslim sectarian war.