Sheikh Naim Qassem: Lebanon rivals met on fighting terror

“Dialog prepares the ground for a joint battle against terrorism that has become a threat to all,” Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Wednesday, stressing, “All sides, without exception, must become aware of this danger.”

“We have long called for dialog that would lead to appropriate solutions instead of remaining in a state of pointless incitement,” he added.

The rival Lebanese parties held the ice-breaking meeting at Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s residence on Tuesday.

Hezbollah was represented by Haj Hussein Khalil, the political assistant of the party’s Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan and MP Hasan Fadlallah, while the Future Movement, led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, was represented by Nader Hariri, chief of Hariri’s staff, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk, and MP Samir Jisr.

“The dialog is a part of political and social security and it will help put an end to sectarian tensions and incitement,” Qassem remarked.

The talks between the rival parties reportedly aimed, among other things, to defuse rising Sunni-Shia tensions in the country, facilitating the election of a president, and bolstering counterterrorism efforts.

After the meeting on Tuesday, Hezbollah and the Future Movement said their dialog “is not aimed at forming a new political alliance in the country or confronting any political group, hijacking the decision of another or pressuring parties to take certain stances on constitutional events.”

The Lebanese parliament has failed for the 16th time in a row to elect a president to replace Michel Suleiman whose term expired in May.

The parliament was unable to reach a quorum due to the boycott of sessions by some political groups.