IMLebanon

Future lashes out at Hezbollah but says will carry on talks

BEIRUT: The Future bloc launched a scathing attack againstHezbollah Tuesday, accusing the party of attempting to impose its presidential candidate on the rest of the Lebanese, but reiterated its commitment to dialogue with its bitter rival.

The group’s statement came as the party prepared to take part in an eighth round of talks with Hezbollah Wednesday at Speaker Nabih Berri’s Ain al-Tineh residence.

“It was Hezbollah’s leaders who started verbal escalation after insisting that either Gen. Michel Aoun be the only candidate for the presidency or else the [presidential] vacuum would continue,” read the Future bloc statement, issued following its weekly meeting.

The group criticized Hezbollah’s deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem, who said that the solution to the vacant presidency lies in electing Aoun, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, or else Lebanonwill wait a long time for a president.

“What the Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said suggests that the minority, which is currently preventing a quorum [at the electoral sessions], actually gets to appoint the president, while the majority has only the right to applaud their choice, [this] means that democracy in Lebanon has been abolished,” the statement said.

The bloc also denounced the “inaction of Hezbollah and its allies” concerning an Iranian official’s controversial remarks referring to a “Persian empire.”

At a conference earlier this month, Ali Younesi, an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, was quoted as declaring a new Iranian empire, “whose capital is Baghdad.”

Tension between Hezbollah and the Future Movement soared over the weekend, as Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad and other party officials questioned the benefits of the 3-month-old dialogue, while Future officials kept up their anti-Hezbollah rhetoric.

Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, head of the Future bloc, warned that the Lebanese state was no longer able to ensure the continuity of its institutions as a result of Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria.

He spoke at the launch of the March 14 National Council, which was announced during an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the coalition. The new body would be comprised of both party officials and independent March 14 figures.

However, the Future bloc pledged to continue the dialogue with Hezbollah in order to reduce sectarian tensions and help elect a president.

Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc stressed the need to continue the dialogue, which it said helped to preserve calm.

But in a statement following its own weekly meeting, the bloc slammed the formation of the March 14 National Council, saying its establishment was to compensate for losses suffered by the group.

Other dialogues continue, as Lebanon comes up on a full year without a president. Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt discussed local and regional developments with Aoun Tuesday.

Speaking to the pro-Hezbollah Al-Ahd news website, Jumblatt said he had “an extremely friendly” meeting with Aoun, who visited him at his Beirut residence.

Jumblatt added that his party’s meetings with the FPM were ongoing and were not in need of a mediator.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV said the two leaders discussed the upcoming appointments of top security officials and the need to avoid vacant posts in the security services. Aoun opposes extending the terms of top security officials, particularly Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi, whose term expires in September.

But many politicians, including Speaker Nabih Berri, believe that the extension of Kahwagi’s term could be the only way to keep the top position filled if the cabinet is unable to agree on a successor.

Government officials also met with Daniel Glaser, U.S. assistant secretary of the treasury for terrorist financing, who urged Lebanese authorities to continue their efforts to combat illicit financing.

“Assistant Secretary Glaser encouraged Lebanese authorities and financial institutions to continue their work to combat the threat of illicit financing, and prevent attempts to evade U.S. and international financial sanctions from Iran and Syria, in particular,” aU.S. Embassy statement read.

Glaser held meetings with the Lebanese premier in addition to talks with the finance, foreign affairs and interior ministers as well as with the Central Bank governor and a delegation from the Association of Banks of Lebanon.

Glaser also discussed ISIS’ financing and U.S. and international efforts to combat the financial networks of the jihadi group, the statement added.

“He reiterated the U.S. commitment to work with Lebanon to continue protecting Lebanon’s financial system from abuse by terrorism threats,” the embassy statement said.