April 16, 2010 - Now Lebanon - Franjieh: Hariri, Hezbollah will not be able to stop sedition over STL’s verdict

Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh said in an interview with LBCI television on Thursday that the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will cause a rift among the Lebanese. “Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Hezbollah do not want sedition, but they will not be able to stop it,” he said.

The international community used the STL as a tool to pressure Syria, and now it is using it against Hezbollah to pressure Iran, he added.

Franjieh commented on the national dialogue, saying its committee members agreed not to disclose any information to the media.

The national dialogue is a waste of time, and Hezbollah will not hand over its arms or allow a war to be launched, he said.

Franjieh also said Speaker Nabih Berri’s proposal on the national defense strategy limits the use of Hezbollah’s weapons to the South, which, he added, reassures those who are concerned about the party using its arms against the Lebanese.

According to various reports, Berri called for forming a sub-committee that includes both the Lebanese army Command and the Resistance to set a mechanism of coordination, which, he added, would stipulate that the Resistance's arms are independent of domestic issues and are only used to liberate occupied territory.

He also said the Ouyoun Orgosh incident was raised during Thursday’s national dialogue session. Lebanese authorities found drugs and weapons two weeks ago in village, which is believed to be a Lebanese Forces dominated area.

Franjieh said that he opposes the use of weapons to defend land, adding that his mentality differs from that of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir and LF leader Samir Geagea.

According to Franjieh, some of Hariri’s allies are my old enemies, referring to Geagea.

He touched on Palestinian arms in Lebanon, asking, “Why would Syria help Lebanon with the issue of Palestinian arms outside refugee camps when Lebanese officials criticize Syria on a daily basis and request the modification of bilateral agreements?”

He also criticized Independence Movement leader Michel Mouawad’s call for agreement in the municipal elections, which are set to start May 2 in Mount Lebanon. The elections should not be interfered with, Franjieh said, adding that it is up to the voters to decide on their representatives.

Franjieh called for amending or cancelling the 2007 US-Internal Security Forces (ISF) cooperation agreement, saying it is unconstitutional and classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

-NOW Lebanon