“The only door for dialogue opens by solving the issue of illegitimate arms and not by making renewed overt attempts to lure the issue of the international tribunal to the dialogue table”

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Saad Hariri snapped back at President Michel Suleiman on Friday saying the only way to hold national dialogue is through finding a solution to Hezbollah’s weapons.

“The only door for dialogue opens by solving the issue of illegitimate arms and not by making renewed overt attempts to lure the issue of the international tribunal to the dialogue table,” Hariri said in statement issued by his press office.

In a speech at the annual Iftar banquet at the presidential palace in Baabda, Suleiman urged for dialogue to confront the repercussions of the events in the Arab world and the state of anticipation over the STL, noting that his recent national dialogue call was not aimed at “empowering a political camp at the expense of another political camp … but rather at seeking possible solutions to the problems before they worsen.”

Hariri has previously voiced skepticism about Suleiman’s invitation for all-party talks, insisting that Hezbollah’s arms should be the only topic for discussion, or else the March 14-led so-called opposition would not attend the dialogue session.

Hariri said in his statement that developments in the Arab world and the anticipation over the course of the international tribunal “should not be a reason of concern among the Lebanese.” “Most Lebanese find the Arab popular movement as an occasion to spread democracy in Arab political life,” the former prime minister added.