Febraury 14, 2010 - Iloubnan - Geagea: Don’t turn the national unity Cabinet into a national paralysis one

BEIRUT – Speaking before the crowds on Sunday at the Martyrs Square, Lebanese Forces executive council president Samir Geagea urged President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri not to turn the national unity Cabinet into a national paralysis one.

Geagea said the Cedar revolution would keep with its mission to serve the best interests of Lebanon and its families. “Here is the high national committee of partnership. Here is the real national Lebanese resistance because its slogan is Lebanon First. It’s a national resistance because it’s keen of the interests of the Lebanese. It is an effective resistance because it’s able to secure the unity and protection of Lebanon”, he stressed. “The responsibility for protecting Lebanon requires its officials to be responsible for securing the interests of Lebanon and not drag the country into fire to defend a foreign cause”, he emphasized.

As for domestic issues, Geagea said any presence of any arms outside the Lebanese Army’s authority would lay a heavy burden on the Lebanese State and could trigger foreign aggression and drag Lebanon into endless and uncalculated foreign conflicts.

“The other camp must make a courageous decision to hand their arms to the Lebanese authority and let Council of Ministers decide of war and peace, this is only way to spare Lebanon regional conflicts, and spare our people terror, pain and tears”, he added. “We have to get committed to the Arab league and UN legislations and resolutions”, he signaled.

As for the international tribunal, Geagea said that Lebanon was stronger than the destabilization attempts. “Some parties thought they could keep Lebanon as an open arena for troubles. But we showed we are powerful through establishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. We won’t compromise it and we’ll abide by its results no matter what. We won’t let it down”, Geagea stressed.

“You struggled to establish the STL and your struggle delivered and will deliver truth and justice”, he added. “We have bid to form a national unity Cabinet to serve the interests of Lebanon and we won’t accept to lose this bid”, he emphasized.

“We support President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Hariri in all their efforts, especially those that aimed to form the Government. So, don’t let anyone turn the Cabinet from national unity one to a national paralysis Cabinet”, he said.

“The truth we are seeking also includes to unveil the fate of our detainees, demarcate our borders, secure sovereignty, and establish stability and to have our status back on international map”, Geagea concluded.