Nasrallah reveals insights into his relationship with Hariri on 15-09-2005
source: Daily Star, 15-9-2005.
summary: BEIRUT: In an intimate and personal interview late Tuesday night, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah spoke of his "cordial and historic" relationship with the late Premier Rafik Hariri, and vowed to hold a meeting with the late leader`s son, majority leader Saad Hariri, in the near future.
"The moment of Hariri`s assassination distressed me deeply as its effect fell on the country like an earthquake," Nasrallah said.
"If the investigation team [probing the Hariri assassination] and the court provides hard evidence against the accused parties, let them hang in Martyrs` Square," the resistance`s leader said, insisting that the investigation be confined to its judicial parameters and not be exploited for political gain.
"I have been assured this will not happen," he said.
But Nasrallah did not rule out the likelihood that major political changes will occur once the report`s findings are revealed.
Nasrallah said the truth does not belong solely to the Hariri family, but also to the Lebanese people who "will not feel free until we reach the truth."
He confirmed that contacts with Saad Hariri have been ongoing and that a meeting between the two national leaders is being arranged.
Tuesday`s interview, broadcast on Future Television and conducted by Zahi Wehbi, was widely viewed as being the first time that Nasrallah has revealed a more personal side since assuming the helm of Hizbullah`s leadership. While maintaining complete composure, the cleric publicly commemorated the 10th anniversary of his son`s martyrdom while fighting the "Israeli" occupation of the South.
"I was deeply touched by Hariri`s initiative to liberate the prisoners, particularly when he insisted that my son`s body be included," he said, adding that he was tongue-tied when Hariri proposed naming a road after Hadi Nasrallah; "we love all martyrs equally."
Nasrallah recalled his numerous secret and public meetings with Hariri, emphasizing the importance of the one which took place a week prior to the former premier`s assassination.
"The last meeting was a historic one, where Hariri brought with him two of his aides and stayed until late at night.
"We agreed on the need to strengthen the state and its institutions, resist the calls for federations or attempts at dividing the country," Nasrallah said.
He added that Hariri also stated his trust in the wisdom of Hizbullah`s leadership, and that he would have resigned from office if he was forced to disarm the resistance before the Arab-"Israeli" conflict is resolved.
Nasrallah said that Hariri also spoke openly about European and American plans to settle Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and divide the country.
The first meetings between the Shiite and Sunni leaders came in 1992, Nasrallah said, when relations were still cool.
"The relationship remained chilly until Hariri visited the Hizbullah leadership to pay his condolences for the martyrdom of former Secretary General Abbas Musawi," he added.
From that point on, he said, "serious discussions" cleared many of their differences over the "clash of two different approaches to how to liberate the South from ""Israeli"" occupation.
"We in Hizbullah," Nasrallah said, "believed in the resistance as a primary choice, presuming Hariri was only committed to peace negotiations with "Israel"."
Through their regular weekly meetings, held mostly in private, the two men found enough common ground to be able to address difficult issues.
"We managed to work out a formula that balanced between our armed resistance and Hariri`s political and development program," Nasrallah said.
But the shooting of six citizens by army troops during a demonstration over rising fuel prices in Hay al-Sellom in 2004 signaled the turning point in the relationship between Nasrallah and Hariri. According to the Hizbullah leader, the two men`s coming together over the tragedy changed a previously cordial relationship into "an intimate friendship."
"It was essential for us to develop trust and confidence in our friendship," he said.
It was Hariri`s wish, Nasrallah explained, to keep the meeting secret because he felt his official ties and responsibilities to the international community would only hamper his efforts to assist the resistance.
Commenting on the present state of affairs in Lebanon, Nasrallah dismissed claims of impending sectarian strife.
"I am open to working with all Lebanese leaders without any reservations," he said.
However, he said he had been disappointed by the annual statement from the Maronite Bishops` Council.
"It is an unacceptable insult to label the resistance as an armed faction in the face of unarmed Lebanese factions."
summary: BEIRUT: In an intimate and personal interview late Tuesday night, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah spoke of his "cordial and historic" relationship with the late Premier Rafik Hariri, and vowed to hold a meeting with the late leader`s son, majority leader Saad Hariri, in the near future.
"The moment of Hariri`s assassination distressed me deeply as its effect fell on the country like an earthquake," Nasrallah said.
"If the investigation team [probing the Hariri assassination] and the court provides hard evidence against the accused parties, let them hang in Martyrs` Square," the resistance`s leader said, insisting that the investigation be confined to its judicial parameters and not be exploited for political gain.
"I have been assured this will not happen," he said.
But Nasrallah did not rule out the likelihood that major political changes will occur once the report`s findings are revealed.
Nasrallah said the truth does not belong solely to the Hariri family, but also to the Lebanese people who "will not feel free until we reach the truth."
He confirmed that contacts with Saad Hariri have been ongoing and that a meeting between the two national leaders is being arranged.
Tuesday`s interview, broadcast on Future Television and conducted by Zahi Wehbi, was widely viewed as being the first time that Nasrallah has revealed a more personal side since assuming the helm of Hizbullah`s leadership. While maintaining complete composure, the cleric publicly commemorated the 10th anniversary of his son`s martyrdom while fighting the "Israeli" occupation of the South.
"I was deeply touched by Hariri`s initiative to liberate the prisoners, particularly when he insisted that my son`s body be included," he said, adding that he was tongue-tied when Hariri proposed naming a road after Hadi Nasrallah; "we love all martyrs equally."
Nasrallah recalled his numerous secret and public meetings with Hariri, emphasizing the importance of the one which took place a week prior to the former premier`s assassination.
"The last meeting was a historic one, where Hariri brought with him two of his aides and stayed until late at night.
"We agreed on the need to strengthen the state and its institutions, resist the calls for federations or attempts at dividing the country," Nasrallah said.
He added that Hariri also stated his trust in the wisdom of Hizbullah`s leadership, and that he would have resigned from office if he was forced to disarm the resistance before the Arab-"Israeli" conflict is resolved.
Nasrallah said that Hariri also spoke openly about European and American plans to settle Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and divide the country.
The first meetings between the Shiite and Sunni leaders came in 1992, Nasrallah said, when relations were still cool.
"The relationship remained chilly until Hariri visited the Hizbullah leadership to pay his condolences for the martyrdom of former Secretary General Abbas Musawi," he added.
From that point on, he said, "serious discussions" cleared many of their differences over the "clash of two different approaches to how to liberate the South from ""Israeli"" occupation.
"We in Hizbullah," Nasrallah said, "believed in the resistance as a primary choice, presuming Hariri was only committed to peace negotiations with "Israel"."
Through their regular weekly meetings, held mostly in private, the two men found enough common ground to be able to address difficult issues.
"We managed to work out a formula that balanced between our armed resistance and Hariri`s political and development program," Nasrallah said.
But the shooting of six citizens by army troops during a demonstration over rising fuel prices in Hay al-Sellom in 2004 signaled the turning point in the relationship between Nasrallah and Hariri. According to the Hizbullah leader, the two men`s coming together over the tragedy changed a previously cordial relationship into "an intimate friendship."
"It was essential for us to develop trust and confidence in our friendship," he said.
It was Hariri`s wish, Nasrallah explained, to keep the meeting secret because he felt his official ties and responsibilities to the international community would only hamper his efforts to assist the resistance.
Commenting on the present state of affairs in Lebanon, Nasrallah dismissed claims of impending sectarian strife.
"I am open to working with all Lebanese leaders without any reservations," he said.
However, he said he had been disappointed by the annual statement from the Maronite Bishops` Council.
"It is an unacceptable insult to label the resistance as an armed faction in the face of unarmed Lebanese factions."
