Nasrallah addresses turbulent changes in the region

In a Monday evening interview on al-Manar TV, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said that Israel and the United States are threatening the region with their attempt to breath new life into the project of the ‘New Middle East’ after having failed in the past. 

He stressed that the ‘New Middle East’ is an attempt to dividing the region on the basis of sect and confession.  Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah noted that he does not believe that the Sunni majority is targeting religious or sectarian minorities in the region; rather, violent takfiri extremists also threaten the Sunni majority in addition to minority groups.

 “We do not need an alliance of minorities to face a Sunni majority; rather, we need a national Islamic-Christian alliance that gathers those threatened by Israel and the U.S.”, Nasrallah said. Nasrallah stressed that the coming days and weeks will be decisive in the search for Imam Musa Sadr, adding that the Lebanese cabinet is not taking the issue lightly.

 In regard to the Syrian situation, Sayeed Hassan Nasrallah said that had Syria been opposed to reforms and not such a great defender against the Israeli threat, he would be opposed to the current regime. Nasrallah stressed that the Syrian regime has always played a crucial role in the resistance against Israel and helped foil the first attempt to create a “New Middle East”. Nasrallah added that Syria has always endorsed or backed the resistance; therefore, it is a partner in its victories. Nasrallah underscored the importance of having a calm environment in Syria in order to put an end to the confrontations and engage in open dialogue.

  “It seems that what is being called for is the toppling of a regime that has loyally defended the Arab people from the Israeli threat but if Syrian president Bashar Assad were to pledge his obedience to U.S policy, calls for his ouster would cease immediately. The goal now is to mold a new Syrian regime; the opposition is constantly in contact with the Americans.”, Nasrallah said.   

Nasrallah stressed that the best interests of Lebanon, the resistance and Syria lie in an open dialogue and the implementation of necessary reforms. He also mentioned that accusations that Hezbollah has sent militants to help the Syrian army are lies, assuring that the Party will never resort to military interference; its stance on Syria will only be expressed through political statements.  

Nasrallah expressed his belief that Syria’s shared border with Israel prevents NATO and the U.S. from launching an attack on Syria, fearful of the repercussion for the Jewish state.  Speaking on Syrian breaches of Lebanese sovereignty, Nasrallah said, “Is Syria a friend or a foe? Let me tell you that the Lebanese authorities consider Syria as a friend and not a foe. Therefore, we should not blow the issue of border breaches out of proportion; rather we should call on this friend to address the issue.”

Nasrallah called on the Lebanese government to stop smuggling weapons through the Syrian border, describing those who are basing their policies upon the fall of the Syrian regime as “adventurers”. Nasrallah refused to label the government as Hezbollah’s cabinet; assuring that “the cabinet gathers a number of political powers with their own specificities.  

 “Rumors that the cabinet will soon collapse are false; in fact, the government represents the parliamentary and popular majority. And, the government assumes the responsibility of an inherited culture of administrative corruption.”    

Nasrallah reiterated Hezbollah’s refusal to fund the STL, stating that the Party is opposed to the fundamentals of the Hague-based Tribunal.    

“I believe that the cabinet should address this issue and find a suitable solution that is approved by all parties”, announced Nasrallah.

In closing, Nasrallah said that Hezbollah is open to discussing the electoral law reform and that it is in favor of an electoral law based on proportional representation.