Nasrallah calls for national unity government

Source: Daily Star, 13-6-2006
BEIRUT: Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Monday the solution to Lebanon`s political crisis lies in a "national unity government." "We call for a national unity government. We don`t need to topple the current one if we all agree to work on forming a national unity Cabinet one way or another," Nasrallah said after a meeting with former Premier Salim al-Hoss.
"All political parties, those represented in the Cabinet and not represented but who nevertheless enjoy wide popularity should work together in that direction," Nasrallah added.
Nasrallah, whose party is represented by two ministers in Premier Fouad Siniora`s Cabinet, ruled out the possibility of Hizbullah quitting government, saying: "We are part of this Cabinet and we will remain in it."
Several politicians have called for Siniora`s Cabinet to resign, most recently Sunday during the launch of the Al-Marada Party headed by the former Minister Suleiman Franjieh.
Nasrallah also called for speeding up reform plans and restoring Lebanon`s regional and international relations.
"The solution to the country`s problems is to implement economic reforms, ease life`s burdens and restore regional and international relations," he said.
Nasrallah`s meeting with Hoss comes a day after Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt said: "Hizbullah`s role is over. Democracy is through the government and the government only."
Jumblatt`s comments were made just days after political leaders agreed during the eighth session of the national dialogue to abide by a "code of honor" and end public squabbles.
The pact states that participants in the talks should respect each other, refrain from insulting each other and avoid triggering further political and sectarian tensions. They also vowed to put an end to "hurtful" media campaigns and personal attacks.
Nasrallah refused to remark on Jumblatt`s attack, saying: "I am sorry this violation happened and I hope it will be solved. The response to this would be through treating it."
However, Nasrallah added: "It scares me when a leading participant in the dialogue violates the pact as this means there is an intention to create more tensions rather than cooling the situation down to benefit from the summer season."
Nasrallah said Speaker Nabih Berri, the sponsor of the talks, specifically addressed Jumblatt during the roundtable talks, asking the Chouf MP if he agreed to the pact. Jumblatt reportedly agreed and the pact was passed.
Jumblatt visited head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri in Qoraytem Monday. Hariri had always played a role as a mediator between Nasrallah and the March (February) 14 forces, particularly with Jumblatt.
But until Hariri`s attempts to defuse tensions between Jumblatt and Nasrallah, the resistance leader is determined to reject a March (February) 14 Forces proposal for a defense strategy that suggests dispatching international forces to South Lebanon to defend the country against any "Israeli" aggression.
"The UN Security Council will never send troops to South Lebanon to face "Israel" as such a decision will be automatically vetoed by the US. When we discuss a defense strategy we aim to reach a realistic one that can be attainable," Nasrallah said.