Sami Gemayel: Hezbollah hinders resumption of efficient dialogue

MP Sami Gemayel said on Thursday that the Syrian unrest must not be inflicted upon the Lebanese domestic situation.

"We as March 14 forces are on the same page," he said, voicing support for the Arab revolution and people's request for freedom and democracy.

"We support people's right to decide their fate (...), a concept of which we are not ashamed," the Kataeb central committee coordinator said, stressing the need to spare Lebanon the repercussions of the Syrian situation.

Gemayel called on the Lebanese to have a clear stance to condemn the Syrian crackdown against its people.

"The Syrian people are free to decide their course, their destiny and whether to negotiate or not, topple their regime or not. This is the Kataeb stance," he declared, assuring that his party is following the same course as its allies within the March 14, with the same positions regarding Hezbollah's arms, the STL and means to preserve the democratic system.

Gemayel also tackled the relation between Kataeb head Amin Gemayel and Speaker Nabih Berri, saying the latter was believed to be capable of playing a major medium role in facilitating dialogue between the country's factions.

As for Hezbollah, Gemayel said Kataeb was the only party which dares meeting head-on with it, confirming that his party seeks dialogue and openness not war and isolation.

He said that the policy of treason accusations adopted by Hezbollah hinders the resumption of an efficient dialogue. Speaking on the party’s relations with the Free Patriotic Movement, "Our vision of Lebanon's sovereignty is different from that of the FPM’s”.