Text of interview with the Religious Authority Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah ; The Daily Star Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Fadlullah dismisses the opposition

Current political uproar serves politicians' and not the people

Shiite leader explains why 1559 shouldn't be feared, and discusses Palestine and Iraq
By: Majdoline Hatoum

BEIRUT: Shiite Muslim leader Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah says he believes the current assault on the government by the Lebanese opposition is part of a strategy aimed at securing votes during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"I believe the parliamentary elections are the main reason behind the opposition's stand from the current government. ... It has nothing to do with the Cabinet's performance," said the cleric in an interview with The Daily Star on Monday.

Fadlullah, discussing the internal Lebanese situation, talked about possible implications of United Nation's Resolution 1559 and the international monitoring of parliamentary elections. He also discussed the regional situation- with both the Iraqi and Palestinian elections expected by the beginning of 2005.

Playing down the role of the opposition, Fadlullah said that group did not possess the ability to change a regime or throw out a government.

"The current political uproar caused by the opposition is related to the political game played in the country, and serves the interest of those politicians, more than Lebanon," he said.

The cleric also said that certain politicians, especially those leading the campaign against the current regime, are in fact condemning themselves, as they themselves had been part of former governments under the same regime.

"They are actually criticizing their own mistakes, conducted while they were in the administration," he said.

Fadlullah discussed Security Council Resolution 1559, saying it was mainly issued to pressure Syria into monitoring its borders with Iraq.

"It goes without saying that the U.S. accused Syria of allowing armed groups to enter Iraq through its borders, and this resolution has been applied to pressure Syria into preventing infiltration by these groups" Fadlullah said, adding that the U.S. is not serious about implementing the demands mentioned in the resolution.

"That is what we noticed when the American envoy came to Syria. He focused on the border monitoring issue more than talking about the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon," Fadlullah said, referring to the recent visit to Syria by William Burns, the U.S. assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs, following the issuing of the resolution.

Resolution 1559, issued last September, calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon and for the disarmament of all political groups and militias.

Lebanese officials described the resolution as interference in "Lebanese internal affairs," and announced their refusal to implement it.

Following this rebuttal by the Lebanese government, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan issued a report calling on both the Lebanese and Syrian governments to implement the resolution, stating that periodical reports would monitor the implementation of the resolution, and thereby opening the door for observers to speculate disciplinary actions against Lebanon if it chooses not to implement the resolution.

However, Fadlullah dismissed such fears, saying that a U.S. Accountability Act against Lebanon - similar to the Accountability Act against Syria debated by the U.S. Congress - is not likely to take effect.

"I don't think this decision would enjoy political or military pressure in support of its implementation," he said, explaining that neither the U.S. nor France - the main countries behind issuing Resolution 1559 - have strong enough economic ties with Lebanon to threaten a possible economic boycott with the country.

"In addition, recent statements by some U.S. officials have asserted that Lebanon represents a very important field for U.S. interests in the Middle East, and that is why the U.S. would most likely not embark on such a step."

Fadlullah also discussed calls for international monitoring of the parliamentary elections next spring, which were initiated by the Maronite Bishops' Council in its closing statement last month.

"The main question should be: does everyone approve this monitoring or not?" he said.

"Such a step should be agreed on by all the Lebanese political factions, and I believe the issue is still a matter of debate," he said.

"Meanwhile, we stress on the need for free and just elections, where the Lebanese are able to vote for candidates who believe in Lebanon."

Fadlullah also commented on the upcoming elections in both Palestine and Iraq, anticipating that Fatah's candidate, Mahmoud Abbas, is the most likely to win the Palestinian presidential elections because of strong American-Israeli backing.

"I believe that the internal political game in Palestine, in addition to the American-Israeli (maybe even the Arab and European) support will bring Abbas to power," he said.

However, Fadlullah said that any potential president of the Palestinian people will stay bound to the principals of the Palestinian cause.

"There are red lines nobody can cross," Fadlullah said.

"The refugee's right to return, the issue of Jerusalem and dismantling the settlements are basic Palestinian rights no one can abandon, and any presidential candidate is bound by these principles."

The Shiite cleric also expected the elections in Iraq to take place within the timeframe expected, despite some reservations by religious clerics as well as some political parties.

"I do not think it is possible that those opposing the elections can actually stop the process," he said.

"It is a matter highly related to the presence of American and British troops in Iraq, and they are determined to make it successful."

“The Daily Star” journal:Tuesday, Zu elqu'da 2, 1425 A.H. / December 14, 2004