Hariri: Hizbullah Mistakes Don't Justify Similar Responses and We Choose Moderation

Former Prime Minister and the head of al-Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri stated on Friday that the mistakes committed by Hizbullah do not justify “responding with similar wrongdoings or harming the prestige of the state.”

"The role of al-Mustaqbal Movement is to protect moderation and prevent extremism from expanding and proliferating,” Hariri said in a released statement after an expanded meeting with party leaders at the Center House, following his surprise return to Lebanon earlier in the day.

He continued: “Al-Mustaqbal Movement's role is to prevent any attempt to ignite sedition. This is (late PM) Rafik Hariri's path and this is our role and Saudi King Abdullah's message to us and to all the Lebanese.”

Hariri then called for “strengthening the state, its institutions and the Lebanese army who protect moderation and Lebanon from evil, terrorism and extremism.”

"We do not consider forming a militia. Our choice is to support the state, the army and security forces, despite some mistakes that were committed here and there.”

And if Hizbullah is committing mistakes against Lebanon, this does not mean we should respond similarly or harm the prestige of the state, he declared.

The Sunni leader reiterated that Hizbullah's involvement in Syria “had only harmed Lebanon.”

"The Shiite sect suffered the greatest harm through the wave of explosions that hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, the South and the Bekaa,” he said. “This was a response to Hizbullah's intervention in Syria.”

Hariri added: “Hizbullah's involvement in Syria also harmed relations between Muslims, and subjected the army and the security forces to attacks by terrorist groups.”

"We have seen how the army is paying a high price because of Hizbullah's insistence on imposing a fait accompli, which does not enjoy the consensus of any Lebanese.”

Based on this, I have launched a series of meetings with Premier Tammam Salam and security and military officials to start the implementation of projects, Hariri announced.

"The terrorist danger is a fateful matter and any negligence in confronting it means opening the door in front of sedition. What is happening in Iraq is very dangerous, and the expulsion of Iraq's Christians can be considered a message to us in Lebanon about religious coexistence.”

The head of al-Mustaqbal Movement noted that the Saudi leadership is aware of this danger, remarking also that its support to the army and security forces demonstrate this awareness.

"The main goal behind the Saudi grant is supporting the army, the security forces and the state. It is aimed at supporting Lebanon's stability and confronting any attempts to harm coexistence,” he pointed out.

Hariri announced on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars to strengthen security. And he explained during a security meeting on Friday afternoon that he was tasked by King Abdullah with supervising the spending of the grant.

The ex-PM arrived in Beirut earlier in the day after spending three years abroad.

He left Lebanon in early 2011, months after the collapse of his national unity cabinet. He has repeatedly claimed that security reasons were preventing his return to Beirut.

He talked about his time abroad during the expanded al-Mustaqbal Movement meeting: “I returned to Beirut after three years abroad, a time which was like a punishment and my return today is the best reward.”

"Many say that my return is linked to the election of a new president. I wish this was true.”

Everyone is responsible for electing a new head of state, and everyone knows I am against vacuum in the presidency, he added.

"Having a president is a need and a necessity for the country's stability and for reviving talks between the Lebanese.”

S.D.B.