Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday cautioned against pressures to form a government and vowed to back a future cabinet even if it did not include the Shiite movement. He spoke on the 1st anniversary of a prisoner swap with Israel in which five Lebanese prisoners were released in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli troops.
On the government formation, Nasrallah stated: "Any missed step or uncalculated pressuring is unnecessary… the country experienced dangerous division and is facing great challenges." "We are required to cooperate to put and end to the division, there is an open window for that. I advise against using the element of time to pressure the premier designate to form a government.
"The (shape-up) deserves to take its time and we remain open to dialogue and partnership," he said.
Nasrallah also slammed those who want to disturb the "calm atmosphere" in Lebanon advising them to "reevaluate their positions because the people want dialogue and understanding."
On another note, Nasrallah said Hizbullah remained committed to "recovering or freeing" prisoners or bodies of martyrs that are still in Israel's possession in the absence of state effort to do so. "We will not give in to Israel's claims it returned (all prisoners and bodies) and will continue to work to recover those bodies," he promised.
"If the next government takes over these files, Hizbullah will be at its service. Let it bear the responsibility. "We do not want to substitute the government in any issue. I am asking it to assume responsibility and we will be helpful," he added.
Nasrallah said the government had a responsibility to uncover the fate of four Iranian diplomats who went missing in Lebanon in 1982. Iran accuses Israel of holding the diplomats. "Not because they are Iranian nationals, but because they are diplomats in Lebanon," Nasrallah noted, according to Naharnet.
