March 14 tells Hezbollah: We will not succumb to blackmail

The General Secretariat of the March 14 Forces responded in a statement on Saturday to the recent speech of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah by saying : “March 14 forces, that are holding onto justice and stability together, will not succumb to blackmail” that aims to make Lebanon a failed State. “

Nasrallah delivered a speech last Thursday on the occasion of “Hezbollah’s Martyr Day ” in which he accused March 14 leaders of treason .

“Accusations of treason to Lebanese groups and leaders of have devoted their lives to the sake of protecting Lebanon and its sovereignty are not acceptable ” said the statement.

Nasrallah is wrong to describe March 14 overtures to Hezbollah as a conspiracy. The March 14 alliance has taken many positive initiatives in calling on Hezbollah to work together on the basis of ‘unifying the accomplishments of liberation and independence’ for the sake of Lebanon”.

March 14 joined national unity governments to contain crises through consensus despite having won the parliamentary elections, the statement added.

“Does this formula represent a conspiracy against anyone in Lebanon?” the general-secretariat wondered.

Nasrallah’s said in his speech that Hezbollah will not allow the arrest of any of its members if the inquiry into the 2005 killing of former PM Rafik al-Hariri if it indicts them.

Hezbollah and Western diplomats say that the U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the killing of Hariri is expected to indict members of the group, possibly by the end of the year.

“The State’s failure to honor its commitments towards the international community and perform its constitutional duties is the fertile ground for strife, which is rejected by everyone, ” the statement added

“Our stance regarding Hezbollah’s arms has no ambiguities, and it is based on the resolution of disputes through dialogue and the gradual incorporation of the weapons into the state, the statement added. … Does this public stance contain ‘hidden stitches” and a satanic conspiracy?”

Responding to Nasrallah’s charges that some of the March 14 forces were trying to sabotage the Saudi-Syrian efforts with the help of Washington the statement said :” The general secretariat also rejects Nasrallah’s allegation” and added that Hezbollah chief should “not invent a hypothetical solution for his real problem.”