27 March 2006

BEIRUT: With Lebanon's national dialogue set to resume once more Monday, politicians of all stripes were hunkering down over the weekend and making their final preparations for talks on the two remaining national issues: the presidency and Hizbullah's arms.

MP Hassan Fadlallah said "the resistance cannot be defeated, and its weapons are only used to confront the Zionist enemy."

Hizbullah "represents Lebanon's power and dignity, no matter what international envoys say," he added in reference to the ongoing visit to Lebanon from UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.

Fadlallah further said: "Whoever has any vision about [the resistance] we are ready to discuss it. We welcome any dialogue under this cover, but not under the desires of the U.S., of Roed-Larsen or the international community."

The Hizbullah MP added that his party's participation in the dialogue was due to "Speaker Nabih Berri's proposals."

As for the campaign to topple President Emile Lahoud, Fadlallah said any attempts by the March 14 camp to take to the streets would be "unfruitful," and called on the Lebanese to discuss all aspects of presidency and allow Lahoud to participate in the dialogue.

Meanwhile, MP Bassem Sabaa said Sunday on the Voice of Lebanon radio that "all expectations are that the dialogue's session to be resumed Monday will be like the previous sessions."

Sabaa insisted "the most important issue is the presidency, and when it is set, Lebanon will enter a new period."

The MP said that Lahoud is "the main element of the Lebanese crisis."

"If Lahoud's term was extended via an Arab interference, then his departure should be via an Arab interference," he said.

Sabaa further said that Lahoud's successor would be "the first president elected in Lebanon on the basis of the Taif Accord," noting that the "Lebanese-made agreement is the starting point to this issue."

However, he said "we cannot build a presidency on the basis of hostility toward Syria."

MP Ali Hassan Khalil said "the Lebanese authority should be responsible for its own progress and political regime," noting that "we should abide by the national dialogue's outcome for the results reached in terms of Shebaa Farms and the relation with Syria. The Palestinian issue is a success for all of us and not for a particular group."