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Al-Ahed Telegram

A Message to France

A Message to France
folder_openSG General Activites access_time16 years ago
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author: Sayed Hassan Nasrallah‏
summary: As I write this article, my country undergoes a critical period surrounded with dangers due to a complex mixture of internal incidents and international developments, all of which require the collaboration of Lebanese and solidarity from their friends in the world, France being first and foremost as it is the country with which we are joined by several cultural and historic relations, mutual interests and a close viewpoint concerning several topics on civilization and current political issues, and, of course, big dreams of a world predominated with rightness peace.‏
In 1982 "Israeli" forces invaded Lebanon using unfounded pretexts backed by limitless American support to achieve a number of diverse strategic and economic goals. And so Beirut, the capital, was taken over as the world watched without moving a finger save for a few limited diplomatic activities and futile statements of condemnation and sympathy. Tens of thousands were killed and injured leaving behind tremendous structural destruction - psychological, social, economic, and physical - which Lebanon and its people continue to suffer from.‏‏
Instantly, Lebanese rushed forward as individuals and in groups from various trends to resist the occupation and its outcomes despite the lack of operational and political balance...and along twenty years overflowing with tears and sufferings, they plunged into fierce confrontations and two destructive wars in 1993 and 1996 till they succeeded in accomplishing a brilliant victory embodied in forcing the invading forces to withdraw from our country except for a small zone which remains under occupation known as the Lebanese Shibaa Farms.‏‏
Hizbullah became the striking force and backbone of the Lebanese resistance`s movement against the occupation. With Lebanese willpower and sacrifices coupled with the support of brothers namely Syria and Iran, Hizbullah managed to accomplish one of the principal chapters of modern Lebanese history. There was a major role played by France in the achievement of the April Agreement which opened the doors wide for the resistance`s operational activity and gave it wide-range international recognition all at once.‏‏
Since the year 2000, the time when the greater part of Lebanese land was liberated, Lebanon continues to undergo aerial violations it is substantively incapable of bringing to an end, the matter on which the United Nations has expressed its concern repeatedly. Many `"Israeli"` officials continuously shower Lebanon with threats reaching the latter`s security, essential ownership of water resources, and infrastructure on which its sons spent dearly to rebuild. However, the resistance commits itself to a mere defensive position across international borderlines and operates within the Lebanese government`s strategy and coordinates with the Lebanese Army to deter any possible `"Israeli"` aggression which may inflict grave damages to our land and people, and might open the entire middle east to dangerous possibilities.‏‏
The Resistance`s armament constitutes a strategic defensive power for Lebanon, a power that cannot be handed over under any pressure or intimidation since that would place Lebanon and its people under the mercy of `"Israeli"` fire the bitterness of which they tasted for decades...depriving them of any sense of freedom and independence, and the right to determine their countries future and prospects of developing it. To this end, `"Israeli"` diplomats travel around the world hunting for means to pin Hizbullah onto the List of Terrorists and to eliminate the resistance`s legal recognition. This happens with explicit consolidation from the U.S.A. which was the first to react positively among other close followers amid support from the globally-spread Zionist lobby which employs its renowned means, finance and mass media in particular, to this end. In this unremitting endeavor, the Resolution 1559 came to life in the Security Council in the framework of a large compromise between the United States and France at the expense of our small county`s interests... which met with exceedingly complicated internal circumstances that climaxed upon extending the President Emile Lahoud presidential period for three additional years.‏‏
The first item of Resolution 1559 calls upon the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon, Syria being intended inclusively. I call this item the French part of the resolution whereas the second item requires the disbanding and disarmament of Lebanese militias, the resistance inclusively intended. I call this one the American part of the resolution. Through combining these two terms, an intersected compromise was reached to settle the tense American-French relations due to Iraq, various commercial disputes, and security issues in Europe. Yet this compromise was in `"Israel`s" benefit against the interests of Lebanon, France`s old constant friend, which suddenly found itself in a three-dimensional confrontation: the "Israeli" enemy lurks behind the borders awaiting the disarmament of the resistance; on the other hand there exists an international community solely directed by the U.S.A. in the framework of its preventive war on what it calls "terror", the war which led it to invade Afghanistan and Iraq; third, internal unrest prevails under a sky that wasn`t clear in the beginning, a matter that should be admitted. Regardless of the position from the resolution, the sheer reality requires the acknowledgment that it has become an actual reality that resulted in and continues to cause great unrest in Lebanon and the region, an unrest the U.S.A. benefits from as it strives hard to tighten its single-handed grasp on the entire Middle East and the latter`s diverse wealth resources especially in the energy domain.‏‏
On February the 14th of this year, a horrible crime took the life of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the most controversial and celebrated man in Lebanon`s modern history through his persistent endeavor to serve and rebuild his country. Our relationship with him was characterized with disagreements at times and collaboration at others on a number of internal issues previous to a deep understanding that emerged - and later developed into a strong personal friendship between him and me - on basic matters which affect Lebanon`s security and the future of its children. We completely agreed on the need to conserve the resistance in its present position, be it related to fighters or armament, being ready to deter any potential `"Israeli"` aggression, in the framework of the Lebanese government`s defense strategy. And we saw eye to eye on the evenhanded modern government project which guarantees security, egalitarianism, equal job opportunities, and a promising future for its citizens far from odious sectarianism. We both committed to implementing the Ta`ef accord in full in its capacity as the pillar of political accord in this project.‏‏
All Lebanese were astonished by the grave incident, and instead of unifying to confront the consequences resulting from the assassination, a dangerous deep divide opened up as political forces on both sides lined up opposite one another. President Rafiq Hariri`s blood, that was still warm, was ill-used for instigation and public mobilization like never before amid exceedingly dangerous accusations with no substantial evidence or verification charging the Lebanese government with Syria inclusively of plotting for the devastating crime, opening the doors wide to foreign intervention which was given a perfect opportunity to implement resolution 1559 immediately, threaten Lebanon`s defense security, and shatter its internal stability. This compelled us and our allies to hit the streets hard to demand the complete sufficient truth on Hariri`s assassination to send a double-message to our associates in Lebanon and the world. So, at Riad Solh square on March 8th, 2005 we demonstrated to renew our adherence to the Ta`ef accord which we still abide by, and we called on the opposition to genuine serious talks to discuss all controversial issues with no exceptions, and to respond to the Lebanese people`s will by holding free elections. We also emphasized that the resistance`s weapons are an essential requirement as long as "Israeli" threat actually exists across our borders, enclosed with our readiness to discuss all decisive issues in our country including the resistance. We, of course, expressed our rejection of foreign intervention which contravenes true sovereignty, complete freedom, and comprehensive independence.‏‏
By April 30th Syrian troops should have pulled back completely from Lebanon where it was present since 1976, a presence during which the Syrians succeeded in bringing the civil war to a halt, unifying and re-establishing the Lebanese army alongside other regular forces, and reinstating political institutions. With Syria`s explicit and constant consolidation, the Lebanese were capable of forcing the occupying "Israeli" forces out of Lebanon, a matter which requires gratitude and appreciation. However this was accompanied, regrettably, by mistakes conducted by both Lebanese and Syrians on various levels of command, as Syrian President Bashar Asad pointed out boldly, mistakes which did harm the Lebanese-Syrian relationships that we`d like to constantly maintain distinct and outstanding to Lebanon`s benefit first since Syria is our strategic shield in the absence of a settlement in the region, as well as our sole economic outlet to the Arab countries and the world. Consequently, the development of these relationships on substantive grounds bearing prospects of the future and securing the interests of both countries and their people is a Lebanese priority in the near future.‏‏
Now that the Syrian withdrawal is around the corner, and as the international resolution was issued forming an international commission investigating the assassination of martyr Rafiq Hariri - two primary demands of the Lebanese opposition, we must hunt for a way out of the current tight dilemma. Once more I call on the political powers in Lebanon to sit down to serious talks to discuss, in the heart, building a bright future for our upcoming generations, and on a solid basis: adhering to national unity and common-existence between Muslims and Christians; rejecting the predominance of any party on the rest; refusing the resort to weapons and the reoccurrence of a civil war; clutching on to freedom and democracy; adopting an electoral system employing just representation; establishing a modern government set on legislative grounds; negating any foreign intervention whatsoever in internal affairs.‏‏
France is the country whose role we, Hizbullah, warmly honor in achieving the April Understanding and in a key swap freeing Lebanese captives from "Israeli" prisons, a country which all Lebanese bestow friendship to and share principles of forgiveness, peace, and democracy with. France is implored to contribute in pushing forward the national dialogue and internal reconciliation from its position as a friend following the part it played in 1559 intimidating many Lebanese who don`t want to see France imprisoned to savage American domination and transgression even if they, the Lebanese, consider that the international welfare system is extremely complicated in a changing world.‏‏
We mustn`t forget at this point that due to many ramifying geographic, political, and cultural reasons, our country condenses most of the key issues in the region and interacts with them. The American invasion of Iraq shook regional stability and produced new tension factors which threaten Iraq`s neighbors Iran, Turkey, and Syria. Also, the Palestinian people carry on an honorable confrontation to liberate their land and acquire their full right to freedom and sovereignty whereas `"Israel"` refuses to implement international resolutions, and continues its occupation of the Syrian Golan heights since 1967, and continues its nuclear armament relentless of demands from the international community. Therefore, Lebanon will be incapable of confronting the upcoming challenges, unless its citizens unite fully confident that their beautiful yet small country deserves life, and that they truly deserve to live in it free and dignified.‏‏