Relations between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Hezbollah were shaken after the PM said in a TV statement this week that he rejected to stay silent over illegitimate arms.
The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary committee, Mohammed Raad, who headed a delegation to meet with President Joseph Aoun in Baabda Palace on Monday said: “I don’t want to comment on his (Salam’s) statement to preserve what remains of cordiality.”
Salam said in a TV interview on Monday night that he “rejected to stay silent on arms staying out of state control” adding that “the era of the Iranian revolution’s export has come to an end.”
Raad’s comment, which came in response to a reporter’s question, raised questions marks about relations between the Iran-backed party and Salam who, along with the President, has insisted on establishing a state monopoly on the control of arms.
But Hezbollah’s dissatisfaction goes beyond the issue of arms – the party has resented strict measures taken at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport that have prevented the transfer of cash to it, in addition to the delay in reconstruction following the latest war with Israel.
According to political analyst Kassem Kassir, Aoun’s stance on dialogue and the rejection of foreign pressure is better than that of the Prime Minister.
“It’s obvious that it (Hezbollah) is displeased with the PM, and that his latest comments made things worse,” Kassir told Asharq Al-Awsat. But Raad did not want to snap back at Salam “to keep channels of communication between the two sides open.”
Yet, ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Salam “has come with a specific mission to carry out reforms and salvage the country, including limiting weapons to state control, in order to regain the confidence of the Lebanese people and the world, and attract investments and assistance that would not materialize” in the presence of such arms.
Asked about ties between Hezbollah and Salam, the sources denied that relations have taken a turn for the worse. “Yet, there is non-permanent communication between Salam and the party.”
