|
Lebanon's Hizbollah Unfazed By U.S. Demands
BEIRUT, Nov. 13 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Hizbollah said that it was "not swayed" by U.S. attempts to freeze its assets by placing it on the State Department's list of terrorist groups, and pledged to continue its resistance to illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, reported the Lebanese daily, the
Daily Star, on Tuesday.
The statement came after a five-member delegation representing the Lebanese group met with officials from the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) on Monday. Hizbollah maintained that it did "not care, [n]or was particularly interested in" the U.S. list.
Last week, American ambassador to Lebanon Vincent Battle said that Lebanese Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri had confirmed Beirut's rejection of a U.S. demand to freeze the assets of Hizbollah. Hariri's government considers Hizbollah a resistance group and not a "terrorist" organization.
"I did get an answer ... the answer of the Lebanese government is to continue to insist on the distinction that they have for many, many weeks now put forward between resistance organizations and terrorist organizations," Battle said.
"We made a formal request on Friday with the ministry of foreign affairs, with the minister of foreign affairs, that there be cooperation for the freezing of assets," he told reporters after meeting with Hariri.
However, he said "we did not use the word 'immediately.' This kind of action, of course, requires a great deal of research."
Nabih Berri, Lebanon's parliament speaker, said Wednesday that there was no agreement with Washington regarding Hizbollah.
"I have just told him [Battle] that Lebanon rejects what is called the new American list" of organizations proscribed by Washington as part of the U.S. war on terrorism, Berri added. His comments were the first official reaction to the U.S. demand.
After the PSP meeting on Tuesday, Sheikh Mamoud Qmati, a member of Hizbollah, said, "We will continue in the fight to liberate Lebanese territory and we urge the U.S. to reconsider its policies in the region."
He also accused the U.S. of "challenging" the Arab world by deeming Lebanese and Arab organizations, including the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as "terrorist" groups.
Both parties also discussed developments in the region, mainly the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan. Qmati stressed the need for a common definition of the word "terrorism." He added that Washington should not be allowed to get away with enforcing its policies in the region with a free hand.
PSP Vice President Doreid Yaghi said that both parties shared similar views regarding local and regional issues and agreed to cooperate together to face the "dangers of the current situation."
Yaghi added that the two parties agreed on the formation of a joint committee that would ensure further cooperation and coordination on a variety of issues in the future.
Hariri on Monday played down the row between Beirut and Washington over Hizbollah's recent inclusion on the U.S. administration's blacklist, as did U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The Lebanese leader insisted that fears of possible political and economic pressures were unjustified, reported the
Daily Star.
"We are not in confrontation with the United States. We are exchanging information and points of view and our bilateral relations are good," Hariri told reporters. "I hope the Lebanese do not worry too much about this issue because we are not in a confrontation with the U.S. administration."
Hariri claimed that "Israel wants to give the impression that a problem existed between Lebanon and the United States, but this is not the case."
Hariri dismissed reports that the U.S. administration was planning to exert economic pressure on Lebanon. "On the contrary, there are speculations of Washington providing Lebanon with economic assistance.
"Moreover, the Lebanese government feels that this country will not be affected by any fall-outs from the crisis," said Hariri.
He added that the post-September 11 international crisis has had severe implications, but as far as this part of the world was concerned, it has led to activating the regional peace process.
|
