Pakradouni on Lebanon, in al-Manar

The upcoming election of the President of the Republic and the lethal assault against the Member of Parliament Antoine Ghanem have once more put Lebanon in the spotlight. Arabmonitor focussed on this issue in its talks with Karim Pakradouni, chairman of the Kataeb, the Phalange Party, a historic political force in Lebanon sustained mainly by the Maronite community.

What prospects are there for an agreement to be reached from now until 23rd October, over the name of a candidate for the Lebanese presidency, who would enjoy support from all the Lebanese political forces, given that up to now the prevailing impression was that the majority in Parliament is moving according to directives from the United States ?

“It’s quite simple. The country is at the crossroads. Either there will be an agreement, or chaos. This regards every Lebanese who cares about the fate of his country. The Lebanese can’t expect any solution coming from the outside, neither from the USA nor from any other country. They will have to decide whether to opt for the agreement or for chaos”.

Without such an agreement, do you foresee two rival administrations of the country getting established ?

“I’m afraid that without an agreement there will be two Presidents, two governments, two administrations and maybe even two countries”.

Do you personally feel more close to the majority or to the opposition ?

“It’s absolutely necessary to overcome this division into majority and opposition and to begin reasoning in terms of belonging to Lebanon instead of to this or that bloc”.

In the past two and a half years a series of political assassinations have shaken up the country, while the Lebanese security services have never been capable of finding the slightest piece of evidence as to who possibly bears responsibility for them. How come ?

“It’s difficult to uncover political crimes. Lebanon is right on the frontline in the stand-off between Israel and Syria. It’s finding itself in the centre of international and regional challenges. To uncover those responsible for the crimes that have been committed, might be some day successfully tackled by a President of the Republic strong enough to reawaken a sense of statesmanship on the grounds of the rule of law”.

In recent days Walid Joumblatt and Samir Geagea denounced they had received threats and alerted to the existence of plans to kill more Members of Parliament of the majority bloc. Are they actually endowed with additional information, or are they simply whipping up public opinion ?

“I must admit that I myself am worried, on a quite subjective basis, that this hellish cycle might go on, given that until the criminals are apprehended, the crimes can continue to be committed. And I tell you this, mindful that Kataeb paid a very high price, because Pierre Gemayel (former Minister of Industry, assassinated in November 2006) and Antoine Ghanem were out representatives”.

An Israeli citizen, who also holds German citizenship, was arrested a few days ago in Beirut by Lebanese authorities. The person had been to Lebanon eleven times within a short period. Nobody knows what his business was. As far as you know, are there more of these cases ?
“Lebanon is an open theatre for international spy networks. We are a country without borders, without protection. A fertile ground for such activities”.

But it hasn’t always been that way.

“That’s right. There was a time when it was different. I would however like to underscore that in the absence of the election of a new President, resulting from an agreement, Lebanon will be in danger of spinning out of control”.

How many of the collaborators who operated side by side with the Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon, the members of the so-called South-Lebanese Army of Antoine Lahad, who fled to Israel (in May 2000) and then dispersed in Europe and North America, have returned to Lebanon and now possibly entered the new Lebanese security services ?

“I can answer that Israel has its agents all over Lebanon regardless of Antoine Lahad’s men and it has them in every community, not only among the Christians”.

How cohesive do you think the Lebanese army is ?

“The army is solid. It’s united. The battle against Fatah al-Islam strengthened it and the consensus it encountered among the Lebanese strengthened it further. It’s the only safeguard for this country”.

What’s your opinion about the candidacy of general Michel Suleiman for President (commander of the armed forces, proposed by head of state Emile Lahoud as possible Prime Minister to be endowed with executive power in case of failure to elect a new President in due time) ?

“It’s what I’m hoping for, for the sake of Lebanon. He’s an upright and strong figure. He has the profile of the man the country is in need of”.

http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=27859&language=en