11 lutego 2017 r. w wywiadzie dla egipskiego kanału telewizyjnego CBC prezydent libański Michel 'Aoun usprawiedliwiał posiadanie broni przez Hezbollah: “Jak długo jest ziemia [libańska] okupowana przez Izrael i jak długo armia [libańska] nie jest wystarczająco silna, by walczyć z Izraelem, uważamy, że broń [ruchu oporu] jest niezbędna dla uzupełnienia broni armii”. Dodał: “Broń Hezbollahu absolutnie nie stawia wyzwania państwu i jest główną częścią obrony Libanu”[1].
Wypowiedź 'Aouna wywołała krytykę Specjalnej Koordynator ONZ dla Libanu, Sigrid Kaag, która tweetowała: „Przypominam Rezolucję 1701 podstawową dla stabilności bezpieczeństwa Libanu. Rezolucja, która wzywa do rozbrojenia wszystkich grup zbrojnych. Żadnej broni poza kontrolą państwa”[2]. Kaag powiedziała później gazecie libańskiej “Al-Nahar”, że słowa 'Aoun są niepokojące i że zamierza spotkać się z nim, by omówić tę sprawę[3].
Tweet Sigrid Kaag z 13 lutego
Następnego dnia, 14 lutego 2017 r., Hassan 'Aliq, publicysta gazety libańskiej “Al-Akhbar”, który jest znany z popierania Hezbollahu napisał artykuł zatytułowany Sigrid Kaag, zamknij się!, w którym ostro zaatakował Kaag za jej sprzeciw wobec uzbrojenia Hezbollahu. Żądał w nim, by „zamknęła się” i powiedział jej, by „umarła z wściekłości”. Twierdził, że Kaag, podobnie jak inni dyplomaci zachodni w Libanie, jest niezadowolona, że na czele reżimu libańskiego stoi potężna postać, tak jak ‘Aoun, który odmawia kłaniania się im i mówi szczerze. Hezbollah, napisał, stał się „olbrzymią siłą regionalną”, która rośnie codziennie w siłę, gromadzi broń, posiada zmieniającą sytuację siłę, działa na południe od rzeki Litani i ignoruje istnienie Rezolucji 1701 Rady Bezpieczeństwa. Dodał, że naród libański popiera wzrastająca siłę Hezbollahu i „będzie niezadowolony z [ruchu] oporu, jeśli zdobędzie coś mniej niż bombę jądrową”.
Poniżej podajemy [niespolszczone] fragmenty tego artkułu[4]
„Lebanon is attractive to consuls. It is home to an army of politicians, people who yearn to be ministers or MPs, businessmen, clerics, members of the media, key figures in society, intellectuals, and the like – who worship the [foreign] consuls and draw strength solely from [serving foreign] embassies [in Lebanon]. Nothing is valid for them unless it is issued by [some] superpower. They say that the former French ambassador to Beirut, Barnard Émié, sunk into a deep depression after his [recall from Lebanon] and his reappointment as his country’s ambassador to Turkey. [This is because] in Beirut, Émié partnered with [former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon] Jeffrey Feltman in order to 'engineer’ the regime in Beirut [to operate according to their will] after the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. He was guest of honor at countless meetings and banquets. No one contradicted him. He was above the [Lebanese] constitution, and his influence was greater than that of the law. The difference between him and any high commissioner who ruled Lebanon before 1943 is merely in their official duties. Conversely, in Turkey, he is strictly an ambassador who represents the interests of his country, without servants, without motorcades, and without the applause that accompanied his arrival at meetings. He receives no gifts, is not invited [to events], and there are no politicians willing to do anything just to receive a recommendation from 'his eminence’ to include their name on the list of people who will receive some order of merit from the Élysée Palace.
„The weight of the American ambassador to Beirut is several times that of the French ambassador. He is a god to many politicians. Additionally, the British ambassador and the EU representative are treated, at the very least, like prophets. In recent years, the list of people worshipped [in Lebanon] also saw the addition of the UN Special Coordinator [for Lebanon]. This same UN, which is powerless to do anything in the world, has a high commissioner in Lebanon who runs from the home of one [Lebanese] politician to another, from this ministry to that administration, and from one association to the next, without being stopped by anyone… Because this is Lebanon, the UN Special Coordinator becomes a high commissioner in the fullest sense of the term. Sigrid Kaag currently serves in this role. The comments by President Michel 'Aoun two days ago [February 11, 2017] regarding the role of the resistance [i.e. Hizbullah] in Lebanon angered [Kaag], who reminded us of [UN Security Council] Resolution 1701 and of the regular empty talk of 'disarming all armed groups.’
„This lady, who does not address any Israeli violation of Lebanese sovereignty or the occupation of the Jaroud 'Arsal area by ISIS, and who operates as a very low-level clerk in the American administration, who opposes strengthening the Lebanese army, told the website [for the Lebanese daily] Al-Nahar yesterday [February 13] that 'Aoun’s comments were 'concerning.’ She later denied to [Lebanese news channel] LBCI that she had commented on 'Aoun’s remarks.
„We must say the truth: 'Aoun’s remarks are indeed concerning [to them]. For the first time in 10 years, the international community encounters a Lebanese official at this level, who speaks candidly…
„But in fairness, we must thank Kaag for her courage. Yesterday she took it on herself to speak for her American, British, French, and European colleagues, who are displeased with 'Aoun and his positions, and who oppose anything that includes even a possibility of constructing a strong state in Lebanon. This is because it is better for them [if Lebanon] remains a submissive [private] estate that requires their protection, and nothing more.
„Ms. Kaag, thank you for your courage, but die in your rage. The Lebanese resistance has become a massive regional force. Its capabilities increase daily in terms of armament, equipment, and manpower, as well as in terms of the game-changing weapons [it possesses], both north and south of the Litani [River]. As for Resolution 1701 – it is the last thing on our minds. In fact, one might assume that the resistance members who dig the underground missile silos have forgotten that [Resolution 1701] even exists, or haven’t even bothered hearing about it in the first place. The only thing on their minds, as the defenders of our country’s security, is to increase the might of our resistance. Many Lebanese will be displeased with the resistance if it attains anything less than a nuclear bomb.
„Ms. Kaag, this country is completely different than what you think. There are people here who believe it is an independent and sovereign nation, including the man at the head of the regime – Michel 'Aoun.
„Ms. Kaag, speak nicely or shut up.”
[1] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), February 12, 2017.
[2] Twitter.com/SigridKaag, February 13, 2017.
[3] Al-Nahar (Lebanon), February 13, 2017.
[4] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), February 14, 2017.
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