<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Speech Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah | April 9,&nbsp;2011]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div style="width: 266px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img src="https://i2.wp.com/www.arabnewsblog.net/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f8cc9_nasrallah.jpg" alt="" width="256" height="320" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah</p></div>
<p><strong><a class="link">April 9, 2011</a></strong></p>
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<div id="div0" style="display:block;">Brothers and sisters, [may the] peace and mercy of God be on all of you.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Despite  the riskiness of events happening around us &#8211; in Palestine, Syria,  Bahrain, Yemen and Libya &#8211; I [feel] that I should address Lebanese  affairs.</p>
<p>I will try to be short regarding the Lebanese developments.</p>
<p>First, I would like to address the repercussions of WikiLeaks and where are we heading.</p>
<p>Second, I want to address what is going on in Cote D’Ivoire and the situation of the Lebanese people there.</p>
<p>&#8211; Third, I want to talk about outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s comments on Iran’s policies.</p>
<p>Fourth,  I want to address the threats against Lebanese residing in Bahrain and  Fifth, I want to discuss the developments regarding the Roumieh Prison  [violence].</p>
<p>First, [I will address the leaked US cables].  Al-Akhbar newspaper has published a series of cables, some of which were  sent by US envoys [to Lebanon] and officials.</p>
<p>We can  categorize them based on statements made by officials [and] the judgment  of the US officials regarding their meetings with [Lebanese figures].</p>
<p>The  first group of these documents dealt with meetings with March 8  figures, while the second group involved meetings conducted with March  14 figures.</p>
<p>Regarding the first group, which regards the  meetings between US officials and March 8 figures, there have been  attempts to provoke divisions between March 8 parties by exploiting [the  WikiLeaks documents].</p>
<p>Regarding the meetings [between US  officials] and Amal Movement figures [during the 2006 July War]: There  are issues about the war [of which] I would like to remind [everyone].  From the first day of war, until its end, I would say that Speaker Nabih  Berri was a partner in ending this war. We had the same concerns and  were coordinating [our efforts in 2006]. [Berri] worked day and night to  protect Lebanon and achieve the victory of the Resistance [over  Israel].</p>
<p>From the first day of war, we agreed on distributing  the responsibilities; I was handling the field [operations] and [Berri]  was handling negotiations.</p>
<p>The interpretations of [then-US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey] Feltman cannot [harm Berri’s] credibility.</p>
<p>&#8211; The  Amal Movement [headed by Berri] was a partner [during the July War]. We  saw nothing but collaboration from Amal and we would not have triumphed  if it were not for [them].</p>
<p>Those who are targeting [Hezbollah] have always [aimed to drive a wedge between Hezbollah and Amal].</p>
<p>I tell those who want to divide Amal and Hezbollah to give up [their attempts].</p>
<p>Regarding  the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) issues that were mentioned [in  WikiLeaks], it was  a minor issue. The FPM base [and position] is known,  and I do not think that [these issues] will affect the FPM’s relations  [with Hezbollah].</p>
<p>&#8211; About [the WikiLeaks] involving [Progressive  Socialist Party leader] MP Walid Jumblatt; He had already declared that  all comments he made in the past were [due to his former alliance with  March 14] and were part of a phase [before Jumblatt re-aligned with  March 8].</p>
<p>I would like to say that Al-Akhbar newspaper does not  follow Hezbollah. [It is] a part of [the March 8 coalition] but has its  own management.</p>
<p>We encouraged the paper to publish the WikiLeaks cables, but we did not help them do it.</p>
<p>We were not aware what would be published [by the daily].</p>
<p>The second issue regarding <em>WikiLeaks</em>,  is about the meetings of [March 14] figures with [US officials]. In  general there is one [predominant topic] of all such conversations.  I  do not want to discuss in detail what every figure has said.</p>
<p>We  notice that the March 14 coalition, from the start of 2005 until today,  basically wants to isolate the Resistance, harm it and put an end to  it.</p>
<p>Why do they want [an end to Hezbollah]? Because there was a deal made between March 14 figures and the United States.</p>
<p>They can deny it. Let them do so and I [will] take back what I am saying now.</p>
<p>There  is a deal between the US and March 14: [Washington] told them to  [terminate] the Resistance and [in exchange] they will be granted the  rule.</p>
<p>What was Hezbollah’s crime? Did Hezbollah want to take  the rule from March 14 in 2005? Hezbollah’s crime is that it is a thorn  in the eye of the Zionists.</p>
<p>&#8211; Does this mentality protect  Lebanon? Is [this mentality] competent to design a national defense  strategy and preserve national unity?  Can this mentality, with this  level of plotting and hatred, build a modern and capable Lebanese state?</p>
<p>Today, the Resistance remains and [March 14 figures] are no  longer in the government. No one will be able to harm the Resistance.</p>
<p>I call on [March 14] to review their stance and to [beware of taking this mistake too far].</p>
<p>I would like to tell [March 14] that this mentality will not take you anywhere.</p>
<p>This is not how the country is run and how its future is guaranteed.</p>
<p>In Lebanon, no one [party] has the advantage to [annul] another.</p>
<p>Second  of all, regarding the situation in Cote D’Ivoire, we are facing a  national and humanitarian problem concerning the Lebanese people  residing in Abidjan.</p>
<p>The cabinet [before it collapsed] should  have addressed ways to contain any possible problem in Cote D’Ivoire  since the conflict in the country began [in 2010].</p>
<p>Instead of  collaborating to resolve the situation, [outgoing PM Saad Hariri’s] camp  started firing at the parties who are finding solutions to the crisis,  namely the Foreign Affairs Ministry [headed by minister Ali Shami, who  represents Berri].</p>
<p>&#8211; The Lebanese people [in Abidjan] are calling  on their state to support them in confronting the distress they are  going through.</p>
<p>&#8211; Third of all, [I would like to address] PM  [Saad] Hariri’s comments on Iranian policy in the region. We are proud  that we are allied with Iran and Syria. We have nothing to hide. And  when a state that has stood with Lebanon is harmed, we cannot remain  silent.</p>
<p>We cannot remain silent, especially when a premier  makes comments [against] Iran and makes it out to be the root of [all]  problems in Arab world, [instead of implicating] Israel.</p>
<p>If it were not for Iran’s support [of Lebanon] following the 2006 July War, a lot of houses would not have been rebuilt.</p>
<p>This  is not how Iran [should be] treated. [Even] if [someone] is upset with  us because we collapsed his government, [he] should leave the Iranians  alone.</p>
<p>The problem is that [March 14 demands that others  observe] certain ethics and mottos&#8230;They should be the ones who commit  to them first.</p>
<p>March 14 [says] that Hezbollah should not drag  Lebanon into the policy of regional axes… Why don’t they [take their own  advice]?</p>
<p>Hariri should be the first one to take Lebanon out of the policy of axes.</p>
<p>[Next  I will address] the expulsion of some Lebanese from Bahrain. There have  been so many insults against Syria since 2005 from Lebanon. [But] we  did not see Syria expel any Lebanese person [like Bahrain did in the  past month].</p>
<p>I call on the Bahraini government to [retract]  these policies [regarding the expulsion of Lebanese people] because they  are wrong.</p>
<p>It is wrong to pressure Lebanese citizens in  Bahrain, [especially since] these people have nothing to do with our  political stances.</p>
<p>[Now I would like to discuss] the situation  in the Roumieh Prison. When you place more people in compounds [than the  structures are designed to hold], the people will not be able to take  it. March 14 figures [exploited] the [recent violence] in Roumieh and  accused Hezbollah of instigating the clashes for political gain. This is  not fair, how can a country be built on such bases?</p>
<p>I call for  the resolution of the issue regarding Roumieh Prison’s inmates, because  it is a humanitarian matter, not a political or sectarian one.</p>
<p>The last point I would like to address is the formation of a new cabinet [headed by Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati].</p>
<p>[After  the collapse of Hariri’s cabinet], there was a majority [March 8] that  nominated [Mikati]. There were attempts to make it look like the Shia  [Hezbollah] were behind naming a Sunni PM [Mikati].</p>
<p>&#8211; They also  attempted to incite [discord] by saying that I [was the one who chose  Mikati] for premiership. Those statements are unfortunate.</p>
<p>I am proud to say that I am hiding because the Israelis are eyeing me and want to kill me.</p>
<p>There are resisting forces who have embarrassed some Arab leaders.</p>
<p>It  is a shame that the Future Movement or March 14 [claim] that [Hezbollah  is behind the selection of Mikati and is engineering the new cabinet].</p>
<p>I  do not think that [March 14’s] provocation will succeed. Those who  provoke are losers. [March 14’s] conduct in 2005 was based on provoking  other [parties].</p>
<p>It is normal for [the cabinet formation process] to take time.</p>
<p>We  are not the ones who are forming the cabinet. Everyone is keen on  forming the cabinet, but [the final say] is up to the PM-designate.</p>
<p>A quasi final solution [exists] for the formation of the cabinet.</p>
<p>&#8211; We want the cabinet to be formed as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>&#8211; Parliamentary blocs have the right to demand [certain] cabinet shares.</p>
<p>&#8211; In  any case I want to reassure the Lebanese people that all talk saying  that some [March 8] parties want to obstruct the cabinet formation is  unfounded.</p>
<p>The people should be patient. We are working to form a cabinet that will be able to protect the country.</p>
<p>We are determined to confront all obstacles and form the Mikati cabinet soon.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=259959">Source</a></p>
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