|
Dubai: After months of political and sectarian tension in both Beirut and Tripoli, the Lebanese are talking peace and reconciliation.
Sa'ad Hariri, head of the Al Mustaqbal movement and leader of the Parliamentary majority, initiated reconciliation talks between the Sunnis and Alawites in the northern city of Tripoli on Saturday.
While discussing a deal with the head of the Alawite sect in the city on Monday, Al Hariri received an invitation from Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, to meet for discussions on issues concerning the two parties.
Tension reached its climax last May when Hezbollah fighters stormed the Hariri movement's premises in Beirut.
Nuhad Machnouk, writer and political analyst, told Gulf News that local and regional parties involved in the conflict have strong intentions to stabilise the truce agreed in May in Doha. The truce that led to the election of a new president and formation of the national unity government is still important for all parties, he said.
"No one is interested in breaking the Doha agreement. Even Syria is willing to fulfil its promises to France in order to bring his country out of isolation ever since the assassination of Rafik Al Hariri in February 2005," Machnouk said.
Machnouk said Al Hariri will strike a deal with the Alawites in the north and might meet with Nasrallah soon. Al Hariri is backed by all Sunni groups in Tripoli including his major Sunni foe, the Islamic Unification Movement.
Regional reconciliation
Bilal Saeed Shaba'an, Secretary General of the Islamic Unification Movement, told Gulf News that they support reconciliation talks in Tripoli and elsewhere in the country as fighting will lead nowhere.
He urged Al Hariri to meet with Nasrallah and said it is time for reconciliation between Syria and Saudi Arabia as well.
"Regional reconciliations are very important for Lebanon to live in peace," Shaba'an said.
|
