Sayyed Nasrallah: Government Must Negotiate Kidnappers from Position of Strength

Local Editor

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah asserted that the case of the kidnapped army soldiers is excellently humanitarian and national and that it does not concern a certain sect, area or political faction, yet “pertains all the Lebanese.”

Sayyed Nasrallah noted that since the very beginning, all political forces in and outside cabinet and the media should have risen to the level of this cause.

“Everyone’s goal must be to return the troops as soon as possible,” Sayyed Nasrallah added, “Unfortunately some parties have turned the case into a substance for debate, sectarian incitement and distortion of facts. They have made demands that exceed the demands of the kidnappers themselves.”

Hezbollah leader added that the party usually avoids speaking in public on critical cases, such as those of Aazaz hostages, yet what has happened in the course of the kidnapped army soldiers case has obliges us to speak publicly about it.

Sayyed Nasrallah noted that among the reasons that pushed him to speak in public were protecting the dignity of the Army and the families of the kidnapped and the martyrs as well as the distortion which accompanied the case.

The terrorist attack against the army posts in Arsal was falsely attributed to the arrest of the militant commander Imad Joumaa because such an attack needs a lot of preparations, according to his eminence.

Sayyed Nasrallah offered condolences to the families of all the army martyrs, including Abbas Medleg, Ali al-Sayyed Mohammad Hamiyeh, appreciating the national stances of their fathers, appreciating their sacrifices.

Sayyed Nasrallah pointed out that the Lebanese government is responsible for facing the crisis and all the political factions must support it, adding it is normal to engage in negotiations and we had negotiated in an indirect manner over captives and the bodies of martyrs. “

This is the normal approach. We have never rejected the principle of negotiations.”

“Anyone telling you that Hezbollah has rejected the principle of negotiations would be lying for political motives. We have never rejected the principle of negotiations at all.”

“From the very first day, we have said that negotiations should be conducted from a position of strength. No one should deal with the kidnappers from a helpless position and all cards of strength must be put on the table before going to negotiations.”

“The mediators and the kidnappers must be informed of Lebanon’s cards of strength,” His eminence stated, “Lebanon has been suffering  from political humiliation for weeks due to some political practices.”

“The negotiating side should study the kidnappers demands. Some may be acceptable and others may be not; these demands should be discussed.”

“Nobody is addressing such issue as the kidnapped soldiers issue through only one scenario. We hope that this case stay far from auctions and settling of accounts.”

“It is the right of the state to reject negotiation as the kidnappers pursue killing and slaughtering.”

The terrorist kidnappers slaughter the abducted soldiers because they aim at inciting the seditions across the country, Sayyed Nasrallah warned. 

“Assaulting the Syrian refugees and conducting counter-kidnappings are unacceptable as they serve the terrorists’ interests and threaten the national security.”

Sayyed Nasrallah noted that when Hezbollah announced that he is battling in Al-Quseir, some rejected this announcement,  but “We wanted from the beginning to disassociate Lebanon from the crisis in Syria and called on those who want to fight us to go to Syria.”

Hezbollah Secretary General stated that the party is against ISIL and all the takfiri groups, yet he asserted that he (Hezbollah) has also a principled position against the US military intervention.

Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the US is not morally qualified to lead an anti-terrorism coalition because it is the mother of terrorism as it supports the terrorist entity (the Israeli entity) and it has participated in establishing the terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq and in other countries.

Sayyed Nasrallah considered that this international coalition was created to protect the US interests at the expense of those of the Arabs and their governments, noting that such a coalition is a pretext for a foreign intervention in our region.

“Lebanon must not be part of this US-led international coalition because it endangers its interests.”

Sayyed Nasrallah pointed out that those who want to support Lebanon can do so through three points — cutting off the financing of terrorism; halting the training, arming and dispatch of fighters to Lebanon; speeding up support to the army; and helping Lebanon resolve the refugee crisis.

Hezbollah leader asserted that the terrorist can never storm Lebanon and are unable to reach Beirut and other cities and areas across the country, adding that the Lebanese possess all the capabilities to fight and defeat terrorism. 

Sayyed Nasrallah called on all the Lebanese to unite against the terrorist threat.

Sayyed Nasrallah finally hailed Gaza victory and steadfastness and congratulated the Yemenis on the national agreement, describing it as  a historic opportunity to pull Yemen out of its complicated problems.

Source: Al-Manar Website