Former minister Fayez Shokr declared that the statements made by Prime Minister Najib Miqati from within the United Nations represent his own views and wishes

Fayez Shokr to Al-Manar Website:
Cabinet Will Not Approve STL Financing

Miqati’s UNSC Positions Not Acceptable
Int’l Resolutions Do Not Concern Us
UN Only Caused Disappointments
Miqati Might Have His Own Considerations
Not Financing STL Protects Lebanon
Our Bloc Will Not Fall in Sedition Trap
Whoever Cooperates with Israel is Traitor
Patriarch Rahi’s Stances… Fully National

Head of the Baath party in Lebanon former minister Fayez Shokr declared that the statements made by Prime Minister Najib Miqati from within the United Nations represent his own views and wishes. He noted that the Lebanese position in the Security Council should have been more solid, and said he was not concerned anymore with international resolutions, after experience has proven they only resulted in consecutive disappointments.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Shokr found strange Miqati’s insistence to pledge to finance the so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and explained that such a high-level decision should be taken by the Council of Ministers as a whole, not by the premier alone. He rejected all claims about a possible compromise to approve the STL financing, and said that resorting to any step in this regard would be equivalent to approve the tribunal which has been believed to be a tool targeting the country.

While confirming that his political bloc would not fall in the sedition trap, Shokr rejected the PM’s statements concerning Lebanon’s readiness to apply any sanctions against Syria in case they were approved by the UNSC. He stressed that Lebanon was deeply connected to Syria, and noted that this did not mean that Lebanon has been annexed to Syria.

Meanwhile, Shokr hailed the latest statements taken by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi as fully national, and denied that the patriarch was launching a coup against Bkerke’s principles, as he was getting Bkerke back to its original position.

EXPERIENCE TAUGHT US…
Former Minister Fayez Shokr told Al-Manar Website that the stances made by Prime Minister Najib Miqati from within the United Nations absolutely represented his own views and wishes. He noted that Miqati’s words did not harmonize with the general atmosphere in the country, and stressed that the position of the Lebanese and Arabs should have been more solid and strict in the Security Council, given that they had a cause and that they were in the middle of the conflict with the aggressive Israeli enemy.

He noted that experience has taught us that this international institution had seen things from a single eye, in reference to the Israeli one. He recalled that the victory in Lebanon would not have been achieved in the absence of the Resistance which forced the Israeli enemy to withdraw from Lebanon in 2000. He also highlighted that Israel sought to take revenge in 2006, with an international sponsorship as well as an American and European support, but faced the resounding defeat with repercussions that lasted until today.

Shokr remarked that a big number of Lebanese officials, including the president and the premier as well as the Speaker have been speeking of commitment to international resolutions as if they were red lines which must be respected. “As a concerned political bloc, we believe we are not concerned anymore with the international resolutions. Experience has taught us that these resolutions only resulted in consecutive disappointments for us,” he said.

Shokr pointed to one of the most recent international resolutions, the resolution 1701 which ended the July 2006 war against Lebanon. He noted that Lebanon respected this resolution, whereas Israel never showed commitment to it. “Yet, we are always urged to respect the resolution. And when Israel violates it through all possible means, they come and ask us to show self-restraint!”

PM FOR ALL LEBANON!
The former minister pointed, in particular, to the international tribunal, which was charged with finding and trying the killers of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, in light of the upcoming challenge of financing it. He found strange PM Najib Miqati’s insistence to offer pledges to finance this tribunal in every opportunity. He said that Miqati might have his own considerations to make such statements, but added that he should perceive that he was the Prime Minister of all Lebanon and not of a specific group, “which is actually a minority but considers the tribunal as its central cause.”

Shokr recalled that this tribunal was created in an unconstitutional and illegal way, as all laws were violated, what made it evident that this tribunal has been null and void. While noting that any decision of financing the tribunal should be taken at the level of the cabinet as a whole and not its head alone, he expressed belief that the government would not approve this clause, regardless of Miqati’s considerations and the so-called moderate camp. He also rejected all claims about possible scenarios based on a compromise from here or a specific step from there to approve the STL financing. He warned that any move in this regard would be equivalent to supporting the tribunal, which has remained to be a tool and nothing more.

BETWEEN STL AND ISRAEL
While noting that the parliamentary majority bloc would not fall in the sedition trap, he remarked that the other bloc, in reference to the March 14 forces, did not mind destroying all Lebanon in exchange for returning to power.

He refused the premier’s remarks that not financing the tribunal would be a free service to the Israeli enemy, and said that at the opposite, it would be a service to those who seek to protect Lebanon from foreign possible targeting campaigns launched in particular by the United States and Israel. He stressed that such rhetoric was not acceptable from the part of the premier, and noted that the concerns of possibly triggering an internal conflict were not justified as well.

Answering a question on whether the financing would make the government as a whole, Shokr rejected such a scenario, and said this option could only come true if the premier resigns when he finds himself unable to fulfill his promises to the international community. “In such a case, we will not regret such government,” he said.

NOTHING CALLED HALF SOLUTION
Answering a question over Miqati’s declaration that Lebanon would not vote for sanctions against Syria but could apply any sanctions if approved by the UNSC, the Baath party head in Lebanon stressed that there’s nothing called half solutions in politics. He emphasized that Lebanon was closely linked to Syria, without being annexed to it. He pointed to the treaty of brotherhood and coordination signed between both countries, and said this accord was not respected in the latest stage.

Shokr pointed to the smuggling of weapons’ process which has been taking place in the North region through the Future movement and his famous lawmaker Khaled Daher. He urged President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to let the constitutional and legal process to start. He wondered how the premier could apply sanctions against Syria whereas he knew very well that its aim was to create sedition in the region, and mainly in Lebanon and Syria.

Shokr also condemned the latest statements made by the March 14 Secretariat General, in which they claimed that the government of Najib Miqati included ministers representing the party “accused of assassinations until now,” in reference to Hezbollah. He wondered why these ministers were welcomed in previous governments headed by Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri, but not now when Hariri was forced to leave authority. He stressed that “whoever extends his hand and cooperates with the Israeli enemy is only a criminal and a traitor. “

PATRIARCH’S UNPRECEDENTED STANCES…
To conclude, the former minister hailed the latest positions made by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi as fully national. He said the patriarch felt there was a conspiracy targeting the Christians and Muslims at one time and thus, raised his voice and took unprecedented stances in the history of the Christian church.

According to Shokr, the proof of the solidity of Rahi’s arguments was the popular welcome he has received in the Bekaa and the South. He noted that the patriarch spoke from France with a Vatican tone and oriental considerations. “The patriarch has raised the slogan of partnership right after his election because he knew there was a conspiracy targeting the nation, and that we have to face it,” he noted.

Shokr highlighted that the Islamic-Christian spiritual summit confirmed the patriarch’s concerns, and remarked that its final statement came in harmony with Rahi’s latest positions. He denied that the patriarch was launching a coup against the principles of the church, and noted that, at the opposite, he was getting Bkerke back to its original path.