Hariri tells CNN: Lebanon cannot function as it is now , needs a president , video

Share:

Former Prime Minister and Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri told CNN during an interview on Thursday, that without a president for the [Lebanese] republic, and without a functioning government, Lebanon cannot function amid challenges,

“All I want is to fill the vacuum,” Hariri said, highlighting efforts to protect Lebanon from neighboring unrest. “We don’t want Lebanon to turn into a second Syria. We want to rescue Lebanon.”

Accordingly, he voiced fears that Lebanon would turn into a war arena. “ISIS would love to come to Lebanon; we are fighting it and we will keep fighting it and al-Nusra Front.”

“In the end, if there isn’t a president for Lebanon and a new government, Lebanon cannot survive while facing all those challenges,” he stressed.

Hariri explained that the presidential post was still void because of Hezbollah, whom he depicted as ” as proxy of Iran.”

“Why are [the Iranians] making Hezbollah ban MPs from electing a president?” he wondered.

“Hezbollah is playing the role of Iran’s agent and this is deplorable; because Lebanon cannot bear animosity towards any Arab country, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“The Kingdom has offered a lot to Lebanon throughout the history of ties between the two countries, and spent billions of dollars in Lebanon, especially following July 2006 War; it has always played a positive role. And, it did not create militias in Lebanon, while Iran did,” he added, in reference to Hezbollah.

Besides, Hariri said he believed there was a political decision as per which Hezbollah should drag Lebanon onto the regional arena. “I think this is the main problem.”

Here is the text of the interview:

Question: What’s your take on the Tehran embassy attack?

Hariri: I think the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, who is close to Hezbollah, took a decision that is not supposed to be taken. I think Lebanon should have stood by Saudi Arabia because it is something that is not acceptable by all means. Even Iraq, which is very close to Iran, took that position and approved the decision in the Arab League, but unfortunately we did not take the right decision.

I believe that when it comes to Arab unity we should have a clear decision in the government about that. Khamenei himself came out and condemned these actions and I do not see why Hezbollah in Lebanon and the foreign minister here took such a position.

Question: What do you think it reveals?

Hariri: It reveals that Hezbollah is being played as a proxy of Iran and this is unfortunate because Lebanon cannot sustain a policy against any Arab nation let alone Saudi Arabia. We believe Saudi Arabia has done so much for Lebanon throughout the history of the relationship between the two countries. If you think of how many billions of dollars Saudi Arabia spent in Lebanon especially after the war in 2006. Saudi Arabia has been playing positive. It has never built a militia whereas Iran has built a militia called “Hezbollah”.

Question: This puts you in a particularly difficult situation because you lobbied incredibly hard with Riyadh for a number of years in order to raise the billions in military aid for the Lebanese army. Do you concede that the criticism from Saudi Arabia that this money, whether directly or indirectly, will end up with Hezbollah …

Hariri: No, I think the Lebanese Army has shown throughout history, even in the civil war, that every single weapon it owned never went outside the army. I think it is the political decision, where Lebanon is being taken by Hezbollah on the regional side, and I think this is the main problem that we have.

Question: The politicians in Lebanon are failing the people, whomever the people support and you agree with me. Why did you, some months ago, agree to support a pro -Hezbollah president?

Hariri: Because I thought you know, let’s go and mix the cards on the table, let’s turn the table around. Let’s say to the people who are opposed to a member of March 14 to be president, it’s fine we go to March 8, we chose a president close to that political agenda and we will go to parliament and we will elect a president. All I wanted to do is to fill the void. For me, it is better to have a president with who I have some problem than a total void in the presidency.

Question: Is it Iran that holds the keys for the presidency?

Hariri: Today we do not have a president because part of the parliament, which is Hezbollah, is not going down to the parliament. We have a problem with the quorum. Iran had elections a few days ago, so why can’t we have elections, like normal people? Why can’t we go to the parliament? Why are they stopping Hezbollah from letting members of Parliament elect a president?

Question: What happens next, if this political vacuum continues?

Hariri: We are trying to keep Lebanon safe among all the problems that are happening in the region. We do not want to turn Lebanon into Syria. We want to save Lebanon.

Question: Do you see this possibility?

Hariri: I am afraid it could happen. I mean ISIS would love to come to Lebanon, We are fighting it. We will keep on fighting it, we will keep fighting Jabhat al-Nosra, but in the end if you do not have a president, a new government and all that, Lebanon cannot function as it is to faces all these challenges.

Share:

Comments

10 responses to “Hariri tells CNN: Lebanon cannot function as it is now , needs a president , video”

  1. William Petro Avatar
    William Petro

    isis would already own Lebanon if it was not for the brave Hezbollah protecting Lebanon from the Syria side of the border!

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      BUT THAT is not the point of the discussion about WHY Lebanon does not not have a functioning government with a working set of seated members – who COULD BE attempting to deal with it’s economic and other infrastructure problems WHILE military ‘units’ defend it – no matter if they are the Official Army of the country, or off-shoot militias doing the defending.
      The place is being dragged into the dust because of Hezzybolla Politics – not it’s “brave Hezbollah” SHIITE MILITANTS protecting Lebanon from the Syria side of the border!

      1. dateam Avatar

        Ok we need a quorum so why does Hariri spend all his time in saudia arabia? Is he not a paid parliamentarian? Where is his mate Abu saad aka oqab sakir? Isn’t he a paid parliamentarian? One thing you need to understand. This is all a smoke screen. Noone and I mean both sides want a president until it’s finished in syria. Then it will be either this side or that side. The funny part is how he states we are fighting nusra and isis. They have tied the army back from day one and plyed their games.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          But, are not ALL the 400 ‘Moneyed Family’ people who actually run Lebanon doing the same thing?
          And I’m sure, at least when Hariri’s elected government was virtually booted, he took the advice to live elsewhere seriously … all things considered at the time.
          At this point there are very few actually doing their jobs there anyway … although I think those ‘Under 50’ folks are beginning to realize they have to do something … and the ‘Under 40’ crowd who are more educated are shaking their heads and saying ‘WTF is that STINK’.
          Personally, I like to think Hariri is looking for the money he promised to the Ladies I know living on the edge of life in Tripoli, so their homes could be rebuilt … and don’t Saudies have a lot of that? ;-))))

          1. dateam Avatar

            Hariri is a Saudi stooge. He was born there. His business interests are tied up there. His loyalties are to the saudis not lebanon. “Booted out”. In 2009 he went to syria and kissed and made up with assad did he not? The saudis sent him there. He put an offer to assad on behalf of saudis. They offered him $14billion to pull away from Iran and hzb and let them run a pipeline to latika in syria. Assad turned it down. Hariri left syria went straight to America and aunty Clinton and aunty rice told him they didn’t approve of his meeting with assad. So he gets up and turns on assad so the government overthrew him. Now this man speaks of government institutions yet is he not undermining the pm at the moment but all of a sudden getting involved like it’s his government because he’s decided to stay now.? Go back and look at his trips to lebanon? Everytime an important figure has been caught supporting isis and nusra he shows up. Last time it was a relative of the crown prince where he came gave the government money and took him back to saudia arabia. Now we have another prince in prison on drug charges do we not? I’m sorry but we are not peasants to beg anyone for money. Some carry on like we will die of hunger if saudis don’t give us money? In regards to tripoli millions of dollars where has it all gone? How many zaems are there in tripoli and has any of done anything for the second largest city in lebanon? Why do we need the saudis? We have oil and gas sitting off the coast but noone mentions that anymore do they? And as for the lack of srvices and garbage who owns shares in sukleen? But it’s not their fault why should they care when the people let them get away with it? They are up in arms because a month ago basil didn’t condemn the Iranians attacking the Saudi embassy? Even the Iranians condemned it and made arrests? But the killing of a sheikh who was simply asking for rights is acceptable isn’t it? That shouldn’t be condemned should it? Yet the irony here is mashnouq at the latest Arab summit objected to hzb being put on terror list did he not? What’s even funnier is the house senate in the states recently placed the Muslim brotherhood on the terror list. Who supports the mb? Qatar and turkey do they not? One of the most repressive regimes in the world wants to preach to us on what is and what isn’t? Your all for women’s rights are you not? So you will accept Saudi money for what some women’s group in tripoli while in saudia arabia a woman is not allowed to drive or set foot outside her house alone??? You see how we have been taught to worship money and power? People with money have different rules? But the funniest part is how Hariri claims they are fighting isis and nusra.??? Where are they fighting them? Open your eyes to this circus. It’s the stupidity of the people that have allowed this to happen. There’s no point complaining if the people do nothing.

          2. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Ok. Yes & Right. And what happens in Iranville and Saudville shouldn’t affect Leb laws – or which prime suspects are kept in the jails or which ones freed or ‘given bail’ for trying to blow the place up. We are together in thought … the people need to change it for themselves. Like some Syrians tried to do. Why they walked home after the ‘orange days’ is a great mystery – a ‘revolution’ seen twice now because of garbage – and seemingly ‘capitulation’ after someone tidies a Beirut street or sends a visible army packing. Why do they ‘quit’??
            I think they have voiced the opinions – then just sit back and wait to see the ‘Leading Families’ do some work. And nothing happens – but death. 🙁

          3. dateam Avatar

            You also have your intra challenges. Hariri rifi mashnouq are all vying for pm position as well. Franjieh throwing hsi hat in does not make sense. He grew up with assad they are very close so why would Hariri back him? Geagea endorsed aoun to spite Hariri. We had the opportunity to have a pm but geagea turned on the 11th hour against the Christian leaders. Lebanon is just too far down the pecking order at the moment to have its issues resolved. The garbage crisis is a disgrace. Kataeb have openly declared the corruption involved with sukleen but what will they do? M14 is an empty vessel drifting to the unknown. Look at them they’ve all gone their own way. The interesting question here is what will happen to lebanon in the next 5-10 years when aoun berri gmayell geagea jumblatt and the likes ar all dead. This new generation seems to be no different. It’s simple. If the new generation get themselves organised and form a proper political party then they will have the deciding vote.

          4. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            The ‘You Stink’ and ‘Accountability’ people seem to have the ideas of what is actually needed, but support from impoverished people does not help create a good ‘party’ base to operate from unless simply everyone looking for the needed ‘changes’ joins it, and a very clear manifesto is made ‘For Free Lebanon’.
            Problem is that many of the ‘youth’ who should be involved in this process have either been swayed already to an ideology, or simply left for simple survival.

          5. dateam Avatar

            Really? In arab society when people have money they tend to look down at those that dont. So i would disagree with concept that impoverished people can only do so much? It is the poor that need to rise up. They are the ones that have nothing to lose.
            Go through history and tell me where the wealthy have risen up? Why should they? But we go back to how our societies have been bred to accept lies. Mashnouq was sitting on the greek islands having a good time while the trash is piling up and we accept it? Why not make public the tender processes and the accounts for sukleen?

          6. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I thought they already established they were 3X what Jordan pays for a similar ‘service’.
            If they want to be Sucked Kleen, fine. Most ‘companies’ expect to pay a little more than Minimum Wage’ for someone who does a good job … ;-))
            And just look how they have evenly distributed the whole rotting mess, ‘shared’ it with ‘the people’, and sprayed it with more chemicals than anyone knows. 😉
            They really ARE all in it together, now :-))))
            https://yalibnan.com/2016/03/04/lebanon-doctors-link-spike-in-illnesses-to-the-garbage-disaster/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *