BEIRUT, 14 October — Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has urged the United States to play an effective role in solving the Middle East problem. “By solving this problem US will solve its own problem,” Hariri said in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.
Hariri, while criticizing Washington’s one-sided support to Israel, said: “Our only problem with the United States is its unqualified support for Israel. It stands by Israel even if it is unjust.”
The premier stressed that the US must pressure Israel to implement the international resolutions. “America is the only country capable of settling this issue,” he added.
He said Lebanon should not be blamed for the present crisis “because it was hijacked” at a time when there was no strong central authority with legitimacy. “Nobody has the right to hold us responsible for what had happened in the past,” he said.
He also denied reports of wanted criminals running away from the country. “Imad Mughanniya is not hiding in Lebanon. We also don’t know the whereabouts of Abu Mahjen, an extremist Palestinian,” he said.
Hariri is worried about the UN Security Council Resolution 1370 on combating terrorism. He believes that the resolution would affect most countries in the Middle East region including Lebanon.
He called upon the international community to differentiate between terrorists and freedom fighters. “We should work together to stop any move to mix the two,” he added.
Hariri said Beirut was studying the UN resolution that calls for hunting down terrorists. “We are awaiting the details of the resolution which are to be published within 30 days after the resolution is passed,” he added.
He said the Lebanese resistance forces had not carried out any operations inside Israel. “Their operations only aimed the targets inside the occupied Lebanese territories,” he said.
Asked about the purpose of his recent visits to Tehran and Cairo following America’s bombing of Afghanistan, he said it was to consult with leaders of the region. “The situation in the region is alarming and its impact on the future could be devastating. The events, as you see, are gathering momentum. The region is in the grip of real danger. So we should have more coordination and consultation,” he said.
