Zahra says Bassil contradicting state's declared policy

Member of Parliament, Antoine Zahra, on Thursday accused Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Gebran Bassil, of practicing policies that contract with those declared by the Lebanese state.

However, Zahra said that pressuring Bassil out of his current political practices was the specialty of the Lebanese government and his political colleagues, not that of other political parties.

"We have clearly stated our objection, but it is not our business to interrogate him [Bassil]," Zahra maintained, hoping that the government will reconsider the matter via council discussions.

He went on to confirm that Government's ministerial statement was non-derogable.

"The Syrian regime does not enjoy legitimacy, so we have no right to strengthen our relationship with Syria," Zahra added.

Moreover, the lawmaker accused Hezbollah of trying to control Lebanon's political life by means of confiscating its strategic decisions of war and peace, as well as through its meddling in regional affairs.

Zahra also said that Hezbollah was brusquely acting against the opinion of the rest of the Lebanese, not to mention the ministerial statement, which the party had approved of before joining the government.

"Hezbollah is trying to control the country's economic and political life and to dominate its national life. If that were to be achieved, we would not have been able to stay in Lebanon," Zahra said.

He also explained that the non-confrontation that's currently being witnessed at the inter-governmental level in no way signified surrender to Hezbollah's will.

"In fact, we are keen on maintaining a state of stability in Lebanon and to facilitate a smooth start of a new era with the hope of restructuring state institutions," Zahra explained

Source: NNA