Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah not concerned with Int’l Tribunal

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said that the Resistance party was not concerned with the international investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in this regard.

Speaking to BBC Arabic, Sheikh Qassem said that Hezbollah has nothing to say over what it will do if the indictment were to accuse Hezbollah members because there are several possibilities.

“Since the month of Ramadan, we have refused to hand over individuals, either close to Hezbollah or residing in our areas, whose names featured on a list that investigators wanted to interrogate,” Sheikh Qassem revealed. “Since that date there have been no requests from the tribunal and investigators began to turn to individuals, as with what happened in the gynecology clinic.”

While denying that Hezbollah has received any request from the tribunal to meet any of its senior officials, Sheikh Qassem reiterated Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s statements that Prime Minister Saad Hariri had informed him that the indictment will accuse party members.

“We have nothing to say regarding what we might do if the indictment accuses members of Hezbollah. The options are many and it depends on the circumstances at that time. What we do know is that such an indictment is a warning bell equivalent to lighting the fuse, to igniting the wick for an explosion, and is dangerous for Lebanon.”

Answering a question, Sheikh Qassem said that Prime Minister Saad Hariri knows what he has to do to face such scenario. His eminence said that whenever Hariri assumes his duties for the interest of Lebanon, he would fine Hezbollah at its side.

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General, meanwhile, denied that a meeting between Sayyed Nasrallah and PM Hariri could take place soon. “There is currently no need to hold such a meeting, but we don’t mind holding one at the other side’s request,” his eminence said. “The relationship between Hezbollah and Hariri is normal. Two weeks ago, Hezbollah Secretary General political advisor visited the Prime Minister and discussed with him various issues. Doors for meetings are not closed whenever we believe there is a need for discussion. But a meeting between Hariri and Sayyed Nasrallah is not at the agenda in the current stage.”