25 July 2008

BEIRUT: Former Premier Omar Karami on Wednesday night called on all political leaders to implement Article 95 of the Lebanese Constitution, which calls for the formation of a national council for the abolition of sectarianism in politics. "If I were the premier in charge of forming the Cabinet, I would have adopted the ministerial statement of the former government because it maintained the resistance's right to defend Lebanon until the end of any occupation," he added.
 
"Let us preserve the resistance's weapons as long as Hizbullah's secretary general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, calls for national dialogue with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman after the formation of a cabinet and the vote of confidence," Karami added. During a talk show on NBN television, Karami commented on Syria's willingness to hold dialogue with various Lebanese groups. "Neither Lebanon nor Syria can relax under so much tension and lacking normal brotherly relations," he added.

Karami urged Lebanese and Syrian politicians to exchange visits to discuss all outstanding issues between the two countries. "We have always supported Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and rights. We believe that mistakes should be corrected," he added. Karami called on Syrian authorities to concede an official border demarcation that placed the occupied Shebaa Farms in Lebanese territories, "which would help return the farms to Lebanese sovereignty."