Hariri urges Lebanese to put country first

Iranian commander says disarming Hezbollah ‘non-negotiable’

Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri said yesterday that the political crisis in Lebanon this month was “a wake-up call” for Lebanese with different loyalties to put their country ahead of regional issues.

Hariri was referring to the crisis ignited by his decision to resign earlier this month. He announced the shock resignation from Saudi Arabia, which is locked in a tussle with Iran.

After returning to Lebanon this week, he shelved the decision on Wednesday at the request of President Michel Aoun.

Regional conflict

“The period that passed was perhaps like a wake-up call for all of us to look for Lebanon’s interests rather than looking at problems around us,” Hariri said at the Annual Arab Banking Conference in Beirut yesterday. “The problems around us are important, but Lebanon is more important.”

Hariri also reaffirmed the need for Lebanon to stick by its policy of staying out of regional conflict — “not just with words but with action as well”.

His comments refer to the Iran-backed Hezbollah political and military movement, whose regional military role has greatly alarmed Saudi Arabia, Hariri’s long-time ally.

Meanwhile, commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Mohammad Ali Jafari said yesterday that disarming Lebanon’s Hezbollah was non-negotiable, according to state TV.

“Hezbollah must be armed to fight against the enemy of the Lebanese nation which is Israel. Naturally they should have the best weapons to protect Lebanon’s security. This issue is non-negotiable,” the television quoted Jafari as saying.

In Beirut, Hariri said, “I want to stress that ... our main concern is stability, and this is what we’ll be working on.”