Description:
The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, sat down with RT Arabic and answered questions regarding the purpose of his visit to Moscow, this as Lebanon’s economic and political crisis continues to deepen.
Raad was heading a delegation of lawmakers from Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement that travelled to Moscow last month following an invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Source: RT Arabic (YouTube)
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Transcript:
Host: Welcome to our show your excellency.
Mohammad Raad, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc: Thank you
Host:
Starting with your visit to Moscow, it comes at an extremely sensitive time, whether inside Lebanon or on the regional level, Lebanon is on the brink of a major political, economic collapse. The visit also coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Syrian crisis. What is on your agenda in relation to the Russian side? How was the visit to Moscow?
Raad:
The truth is that this visit is taking place at a crossroads in global and regional transformations, in which tensions are tightening between the various members of the opposition (i.e. anti-imperialist front) and international powers that want to exclusively take charge of world affairs, according to their interests and that of their allies, including the Zionist entity.
What is happening now in Lebanon is a method of pressure that seeks to twist the arm of the resistance by imposing sanctions, along with the imposition of a financial, banking, and economic embargo, this after the failure of other methods. It is also after this resistance, in cooperation with its friends, Russia being at the forefront, achieved a tremendous victory over terrorism in Syria, and prevented this terrorism from infiltrating into Lebanon to threaten its stability.
Now, considering the current transformations, it is imperative that the efforts of friends be integrated/harmonised, that we face the challenges and risks together, preserve the stability of our country, and achieve our common interests, in order to banish the spectre of appropriation and monopoly which the Zionist entity seeks, by relying on its international alliances.
Host:
When you say that the efforts of ‘friends’ must be integrated/harmonised, do you mean the ‘Russian friend’ and (certain) Lebanese powers?
Raad: Of course.
Host:
In what framework, your excellency, will the Russian role move in the Lebanese arena? At the level of the government for example, Lavrov met the Mr Hariri in Abu Dhabi, and today you are in Moscow. What are the latest updates in this file?
Raad:
The latest update is that Russia is showing serious interest in speeding up the formation of the Lebanese government and facilitating this task for the prime minister-designate (Hariri) himself, such that (Hariri) does not take any step backwards. (Russia is) also urging the Lebanese parties to complete this task, as the key to the country’s stability at this stage is the presence of a government.
We frankly expressed our view: with a government that accommodates the widest possible participation, insisting on 18 (government ministers) makes no sense. (Rather), increasing the representation of (Lebanon’s) political forces and people would benefit the government and guarantee its longevity. (Especially) since the measures (this new government) will take may not be (viewed) as popular measures, even if they were (necessary) reforms. This (thus) requires all forces to be supportive of it. On that basis, we are facilitating the formation of the government, (and) our view overlaps with that of the Russian friends.
Host:
The Russian side wants to strengthen its role in the Lebanese arena by bringing points of views closer together, as it always does in other arenas without interfering in the internal affairs of countries.
Raad: Of course.
Host:
Your excellency, the Russian role, we want to talk about the Russian role specifically. Some say that this role is not being activated because – we do not say linkage or subordination – but due to the active presence of the Americans in the Lebanese arena in all files. There is even talk, or maybe information that may sometimes appear in the media, that Russia’s friends – since you use this term ‘friends’ – meaning Russia’s allies in Lebanon, are not exerting enough efforts to activate/facilitate this (Russian) role (that aims to) bring perspectives (among the Lebanese) closer to each other.
Raad:
In fact, the crisis that Lebanon is suffering from required us to take a rational approach in dealing with matters. We believe in coexistence. Yet, coexistence in its true meaning requires us to expand (our relations/horizons) eastward and westward. As for limiting our expansion to the West without turning to the East, this does not express the unity of the Lebanese people, nor the cohabitational unity among the Lebanese. Nevertheless, we (have so far) overlooked many (negative) issues in order to maintain the stability and sovereignty of our country. We also hope and count on the role of (our) Russian friends in terms of our country’s economy.
Host: How is that? How can it be translated?
Raad:
It can be translated through the opportunities they will contribute to in many fields, on the level of extraction of natural wealth (resources), participation in the reconstruction of Lebanon, on the level of transportation, railways and so on…
Host: Have you seen practical Russian steps within this economic file?
Raad:
We have seen (Russian) seriousness in approaching these files, and in detail too, details that have been put forward and that need discussions with the (future Lebanese) government, the formation of which is eagerly awaited.
Host:
This means that the (ordinary) Lebanese (citizen ought to) wait for (a new) government and (a change) in the situation of the US dollar. The Lebanese Pound has collapsed completely, and some say that Lebanon has become a failed state, your excellency. It is said that Hezbollah is the one who dominates political decision-making, and it is to be held accountable for this failure…
Raad:
First, regarding the situation of the US dollar and the rise of its value against the Lebanese Pound, basically the whole banking system in Lebanon is in the hands of the Americans, and they are responsible for this whole crisis. They are the ones who organise/scheme, they are the ones who impose sanctions…Today, they want the Lebanese people to be held responsible (instead). This is one of the indications of the failure of American policy in Lebanon, and (indicates) that if the (US) continues to hold the economic situation (in its grasp), it will negatively affect and put pressure on the Lebanese people and harm their livelihoods. Even so, (the US) will not be able to seize their dignity, nor their concern for their national sovereignty.
The headline reads: Russia serious about investing in Lebanon, but requires new govt.
Having read the article, I think this headline might be slightly misleading. This is not a demand for an EU$A style “regime change” in Lebanon. Russia does not want Lebanon to have a **new** government, it wants Lebanon to have **a** government; an “agreement-capable” government.
This seems to me a very reasonable request because Russia itself has demonstrated what remarkable progress can be made by a country once it has a government. The Lebanese people have shown themselves to be brave and resilient under foreign invasion and financial blackmail — but do they have an “agreement-capable” government?
Without Russia, Lebanon will be lost and it will be diced into small enclaves.
Without Hezbollah, Russia cannot help Lebanon.
What we are seeing is Hezbollah at a crossroads, just as Lebanon is. Hezbollah has to prove itself as deft at politics locally, and regionally, as it has proven on battlefields.
This meeting in Moscow is vital to the near-future development of a new government.Hezbollah returns to Beirut with the patina of alliance, support, backing from the Kremlin. But it also comes back with a to-do list Russia needs to unlock the obstacles a new government faces.
We know Nasrallah is a man of intellect and talents. A secure pipeline between Moscow and Hezbollah has been established. This is wha this meeting in Moscow was about.
With a clear understanding of Russia’s intentions and requirements, now it is up to Hezbollah to work the local politics with a new government to create a transition from the historic imperialism of the US and France that is murdering Lebanon as a state.
Some new faces must emerge from Hezbollah, technical, economic specialists, lawyers, statesmen-in-the-making who can work with Russian experts to rebuild the government and then rebuild the economy, saving the nation from disintegration and total ruin.
Thank-you Larchmonter445, and for all your other replies on these massive geo-political shifts that we are seeing.
Well said sir. From the little I know about Lebanon it seems that the government has somewhat equal representation from each and every group in the country and the result is that trying to get agreement among them is the same as herding cats. Somebody (hopefully Hezbolla) has to step forward with the authority to get things done.
@Dr. Maroudis
With all respect for your contributions to this community, allow me a small correction. The headline of the interview reads: “Hezbollah: Russia serious about investing in Lebanon, but requires new govt.” Yes, it looks like a Russian requirement, but note that this is a message from the Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc (Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc) coming back from Moscow, where support by Russia to Lebanon’s recovery was discussed upon which positive results were claimed by Mr. Raad. What Mr. Raad is saying (my reading of the interview) is that to benefit from such support, a new government is needed that will not only be looking West and should start looking East. This is not the same as a Russian requirement or imposition of certain conditions on a new Lebanon government. It is just a requirement by Hezbollah’s Parliamentary Faction to seek a balance in international affiliations and seek benefit from Russian support.
Mr. Raad suggests that, to the extent that such a new government would be looking West, it should be concerned with ending “the imposition of a financial, banking, and economic embargo” (from the West) allowing them to destroy Lebanon (‘under the spectre of appropriation and monopoly which the Zionist entity seeks’). Clear enough. To the extent that a new (multi-party) government would be looking East, thepoint is that as long as Lebanese politicians allow the Western assault on Lebanon to go on, it makes little sense for Russia to invest in Lebanon. So basically, this is an internal political statement by a Lebanese parliamentary faction.
That Hezbollah was invited to Moscow for discussions confirms that the Russian Government sees them as an important regional player, not just a proxy group with no direct influence in the Middle East.
“Lebanon has been in a political crisis since a massive explosion rocked the port of Beirut in 2020. After the incident, the government resigned, and since then, the country has not been able to form a new government.”
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/lavrov-meets-with-delegation-from-lebanon-s-hezbollah/2177205
The enemies of peace are of course working hard to derail and corrupt the needed solutions in Lebanon and the Greater Middle East.
See:
Lebanon on the brink of the precipice – Elijah J. Magnier;
https://thealtworld.com/elijah_magnier/lebanon-on-the-brink-of-the-precipice
It seems to me there is not much new here. Nothing has changed in 6 months. I’m sure Russia and China have long wanted to help Lebanon climb out of the mess, but it is clear this can only happen if the Lebanese government starts to clear out the corruption. The economic crisis was created by corrupt politicians and bankers, and by the French-imposed constitution that ensures corruption and sectarianism remains the order of the day. For a number of years, Hezbollah has been saying Lebanon needs a non-sectarian constitution and that the corruption must stop. Nothing new there, unfortunately. I may be wrong, but I only see three things that may have changed. 1. Harriri may have slightly changed his mind about working with the Saudis and the West, after being held hostage in Saudi Arabia, so perhaps he could make a U-turn, as did Michel Aoun who now works with Hezbollah. But Harriri might not, too. 2. One would have thought the devastating explosion in Beirut would have galvanized the public and forced things to change, but that was 6 months ago, and no change yet. Arabs are famous for “haba haba” – but not when people are going hungry! 3. The economic crisis is really hurting people, but because this descent was well understood and measured by the bankers who had a lot to do with creating it, the crisis is probably part of a scheme to further destroy Lebanon. So not really a change. The change that has to happen must come from the ordinary Lebanese who must persuade their Western-oriented overlords to make a U-turn. Time is not on the side of the Lebanese people because, as in any extreme crisis, the priority becomes putting food on the table. What can we do from outside Lebanon ?
I think as soon as someone cashes in a whole lot of dollars for a competing currency,(like all the dollars floating around in Lebanon say), they go on a sanctions list, just guessing but it does have some merit.
First the USA Bandits must be driven out of Lebanon. That should be non negotiable!