23 April 2008

BEIRUT: Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah urged the country's politicians on Tuesday to find a way to transform the ongoing "sterile" debate into a "productive" dialogue. "The Lebanese problem cannot be solved through decisive declarations of opinions where fixed judgments are thrown here and there, nor can it be settled through cloudy positions," Fadlallah said during a meeting with Egyptian Ambassador Ahmad Bidiawi.

According to Fadlallah, solutions can be reached through the rejection of the "defeater and defeated" principle, while focusing on the "real formulas of consensus."

"Lebanon relies on Egypt to find a way out of the current crisis away from accusing this or that Lebanese party of hampering solutions," he added.

Fadlallah said that any Arab rapprochement might "lessen" the American pressure, which he said, "is still working on promoting Arab discords and hampering the Lebanese solution."

Bidiawi highlighted his country's keenness on settling the Lebanese crisis.

"Egypt has not abandoned its role on the Lebanese, Islamic and Arab levels," he said, calling on Lebanese parties to elect a new president and put an end to the ongoing crisis.

Bidiawi also met Tuesday with Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the region.

Qabbani praised the "important" role played by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to help the Lebanese reach a solution that puts a term to the crisis they are suffering and creates consensus among them.

Meanwhile, Higher Shiite Council Vice President Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan called for the disarmament of the Lebanese people.

"Weapons should be taken away from the hands of the Lebanese, as political differences should not turn into murder," Qabalan said, and voiced hope that discussions would  continue among politicians.

"Meetings among MPs constitute a positive initiative that eliminates tension and smoothes obstacles out," the sheikh said. "Communication brings viewpoints together and drives suspicions away."

Qabalan said Lebanon and the Lebanese are the "solution-makers" to their problems.

Meanwhile, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir met Tuesday with Justice Minister Charles Rizk for talks on the latest developments in the country.

"I ask the government to insist on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon handing Daniel Bellemare [the head of the UN commission investigating former Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination] his missions as soon as possible," Rizk said after the meeting.

Rizk has proposed that Bellemare begin on June 15 his planned role as prosecutor for the Special Tribunal in exchange for the government approving the extension of the investigation commission's mandate.

Rizk wrote a letter to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora last week asking the premier to put the two items on the Cabinet's agenda, after Bellemare asked Rizk last month to have the government request an extension beyond June 15 for the commission.

"I asked this because I am aware, more than anyone else, of the dangers and threats surrounding Lebanese judges," Rizk said.

The minister was referring to an attack Monday on Lebanese Judge Ralph Riachi's home.

"Riachi has played the main role in the establishment of the tribunal," Rizk said. "The government should not wait for new attacks on Lebanese judges, which I fear will be stronger than this one."

Unidentified assailants broke into and vandalized Riachi's home Monday, but without stealing anything, said Rizk.

"This shows very clearly the perpetrators' intention to terrorize and intimidate the judge," he said. "Is the government waiting for the assassination of the Lebanese judge in order for the international magistrate to start his mission?" - The Daily Star

Copyright The Daily Star 2008.