Hariri’s Confusion Will Trouble Lebanon

IRD: Mr. Karami, how do you assess the recent developments in Lebanon?

OK: Honestly, the prevalent atmosphere is tense. Mr. Mikati and President Michel Suleiman have been striving to find a solution to the ongoing crises. Unfortunately, our friends in the March 14 camp make no efforts to resolve the crisis. Sadly, we see people who prefer tension to calm. Whatever our proposed solution, they suggest the opposite and make their own stipulations –which are apparently intended to create tension. It is not at all clear what their plan is. Their political efforts all signify an attempt to further the crisis and instability in the country. Of course, it is also quite clear that they are somehow confused in their policies.

IRD: How and when do you think this political crisis exactly started?

OK: It was a sequel to previous contentions. Precisely, it started when Saad Hariri met Seyyed Hassan Nasrullah and told him that some members of Hezbollah are accused of complicity in the assassination of his father [Rafik Hariri]. Besides his accusation, he also wanted Seyyed Hassan to confirm the accusations, saying the he would refute them later himself. Nonetheless, everyone expected the problems to abate with Syria’s and Saudi Arabia’s [joint] efforts. But we actually saw all these endeavors go up in smoke with Saad Hariri’s visit to Washington. In Lebanon, Saad Hariri’s companions had advised him not to go to the US, since the Americans would press him to change his decision. In a meeting we had after the fall of the Hariri cabinet, Waleed Jumblatt told me how he had pleaded with Hariri to not make the trip, but he had not listened. Hariri was urged to enforce the US’ orders and it plunged Lebanon into further crisis, although we all know that he was unwilling but railroaded by the Americans. You saw what happened afterwards.

IRD: Hariri and the March 14 camp have encountered problems even with Mr. Mikati who was supported by them. Why?

OK: Yes, exactly. They are accusing Mikati of betrayal while they backed him before his appointment to the premiership. Mikati spoke of March 14 everywhere. Now suddenly we see that this insider is accused of betrayal. Why? Because they thought Mikati should think exactly like them. Unfortunately, March 14 makes everything personal. It equates itself with entire Lebanon—so whenever something is against their will, they begin creating tension. Najib Mikati is quite the opposite. We had a meeting before he started consulting political groups. His beliefs are still close to Hariri and the March 14 camp. Of course, on the Resistance, he has a different idea which is highly praiseworthy. What bears import for him is stability in Lebanon. Stability is what Lebanon needs the most. Mikati knows this well. Time and again he told me that Hariri had a place in his heart, but what counted for him was stability and the security of the country. This is a fact that March 14 does not believe in. [And] the outcome is calling Mikati a traitor, and setting conditions for him that practically close the path toward cooperation.

IRD: Why? What are their specific demands?

OK: They want to give Mikati only two choices: he should choose either March 14 or March 8. They don’t believe in a middle path. Mikati insists on portraying himself as a trans-partisan candidate. But this is not what they want.

IRD: Why do they reject Mikati’s attitude?

OK: Because in the current circumstances, the only thing they can think of is undermining the Resistance. They want to settle old scores with Hezbollah and the Resistance. They talk of Hezbollah’s arms and the necessity of their disarmament while they have forgotten the 2006 negotiations in which we reached general agreements which hinged upon continuation of talks. However, ensuing problems, including the raid of the Zionist enemy on Lebanon halted these negotiations. They have also set [continuation of] the Hariri International Tribunal as a condition. They want Mikati to acknowledge the tribunal, which is in accord with the United States’ agenda. Mikati rejects this.

IRD: Is Hezbollah against the Hariri International Tribunal?

OK: Not at all. We are against the modus operandi of the court. The court listens to the testimony of a single group and wants to release the verdict the way it wishes. This is what we say: are we Lebanese or not? Are we part of Lebanese politics or not? If yes, then listen to us too. They spoke of El Zour witnesses [witnesses claiming to have been at the scene of Rafik Hariri’s assassination and having identified the perpetrators of the operation] and imprisoned some people [based on witness testimony], but released them without any apology, conciliation or acknowledgment of [the tribunal’s] mistake. Look how much they insulted Jamil al-Sayyed [former General Directorate of General Security of the country], without any apology. Seyyed Hassan Nasrullah submitted documents to the tribunal and said that he would prove Israel was behind Rafik Hariri’s assassination. He even [publicly] presented some documents, but no one paid attention. What we are saying is: why is the court looking at the issue lopsidedly? Why are the words of only one person the basis for releasing the verdict? In our opinion, the truth will not be uncovered in this way. It will merely lead to a sacrifice of justice.

IRD: Why was it Najib Mikati –and not you- who was chosen for premiership? You were the March 8 camp’s candidate.

OK: All agreed on me except a number of the March 14 camp -which formed the majority of the parliament. After discussions, we came to the conclusion that it was better that I step down and we choose someone who enjoys broader support. Mr. Nabih Berri, head of the parliament, contacted me and told me that under those circumstances it was better to choose someone who had a better status among March 14. It was then that he spoke of Mikati.

IRD: When was that exactly?

OK: Around ten days ago, before Mikati was officially announced as the March 8 nominee. I called Mikati and asked his opinion. After that we set a meeting and discussed his nomination. Of course, I should say that initially Mikati rejected the offer and said he won’t enter into the premiership as long as Saad Hariri was there. Waleed Jumblatt played a decisive role. He convinced Mikati to step in. Jumblatt was in full alignment with Berri and March 8. Mikati was nominated afterwards.

IRD: Many criticize you for being too close to Syria.

OK: If you mean the March 14 camp, they should explain as a first step why their leader [Saad Hariri] met Bashar Assad [in Damascus] and had a photo op with him. I have warm relations with Syria. This relation is in alignment with Resistance-Syria ties. Syria has had a substantial role in [the sustention of] stability of Lebanon. Among the Arab countries, it is only Syria which decisively backs the Resistance and has aided us in critical situations. I think keeping up diplomatic ties with Syria is a must for the Lebanese.

IRD: How do you see the future? Do you think developments in Egypt can adversely affect Lebanon?

OK: We have seen diverse interpretations of Egypt’s developments. Egypt is a great country known as the birthplace of thought in the Arab World. Egypt has left a stunning impact on the intellectual flow in the Muslim World. Undoubtedly, any development in its future affects not only Lebanon, but also the entire Middle East, and particularly the Arab World. We will undoubtedly be affected. We must be watchful to not lose our stability. The Lebanese must be vigilant about the enemy, particularly the Zionist Regime, which is poised to destroy our security and stability. We must be extremely prudent lest the stability of Lebanon is blown away. Whether we want it or not, were are moving in the line of fire. A single lapse can plunge entire Lebanon into that fire.