SSNP lawmaker criticizes speeches of March 14 leaders

Syrian Social Nationalist Party MP Marwan Fares criticized Monday speeches of March 14 leaders during the commemoration that marked the 6th anniversary of the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri :

“The formation of a national unity cabinet became more difficult after Monday’s speeches,” Syrian Social Nationalist Party MP Marwan Fares on Tuesday.

Fares is a key member of the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance.

He was referring to the attacks against the illegal arms in Lebanon and the defense of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon STL , by the March 14 leaders that addressed the participants at Biel.

We do not support the Resistance giving up its arms since they target Israel, Fares told MTV and added “We consider the Tribunal (STL) to be an update to 1559, which we oppose.”

He was referring to UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which was adopted on September 2, 2004, on the situation in Lebanon. 1559 called upon Lebanon to establish its sovereignty over all of its land and called upon “foreign forces” to withdraw from Lebanon and to cease intervening in the internal politics of Lebanon. The resolution also called on all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias to disband and declared support for a “free and fair electoral process”.

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday all said that March 14 would enter into the opposition.

The Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 .

Nagib Mikati, who was backed by Hezbollah and its March 8 allies including Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi, was appointed by president Michel Suleiman as PM-designate to form and head the next cabinet , giving Hezbollah and its allies increased leverage in the country and provoking widespread protests.