Al-Jazeera Television Station Interviews Mr. Issam Fares the Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister (8/3/2005).

Interviewer: Mr. Fares, as a minister of the former government, how do you assess the developments that took place recently in Lebanon?

Mr. Fares: I am a member of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council. Yesterday, we were in Damascus and we worked on the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon, that is, the application of the Taif Accord and the application of the clause pertaining to this topic in UN Resolution 1559. As to the other clauses mentioned by the resolution 1559, they concern solely Lebanon. The Lebanese public is now demonstrating and expressing its refusal of the UN Resolution 1559. As to us as government, and the government of Syria, we both agree on the application of international resolutions, while we see that the Lebanese public objects to 1559.

The Interviewer: Not all of the Lebanese public.

Mr. Fares: No, not all of the Lebanese. But those who demonstrated for the last three weeks did not represent all of the public either.

The Interviewer: Doesn’t this represent a schism among the Lebanese?

Mr. Fares: The Lebanese are expressing their opinions, and I welcome such expression because it denotes the fact that we have a vibrant democracy. However, the expression of one’s opinion should not lead to the fall of all State institutions. The latter should not be forced to disintegrate, nor should public opinion lead to the downfall of the economy and paralyzing the country for 21 days. The only solution I can think of is for all parties to partake in the government of the country in order to get out of this impasse, and move on.

The Interviewer: The demonstration that took place in Solh’s square in the downtown area of Beirut seems to back and thank Syria. How does this affect the political scene in Lebanon?

Mr. Fares: In truth this is just a show of gratitude and thanks for what Syria has achieved in the past by installing security following a terrible war, and its backing of the army and Lebanese resistance.

The Interviewer: I mean who are the political factions that profit from these demonstrations?

Mr. Fares: I do not think that anyone is profiting from all of these demonstrations. I hope that we will all participate in running this country by joining its institutions. We need to form a government, and efforts to that end are being exerted. All should participate in a ‘national unity government’. Thereafter, we will have parliamentary elections since Syria has decided to withdraw all of its armed forces. The elections will express the will of the people, and those elected deputies will then form a government. Negativism is not fruitful, and the disintegration of all state institutions can only lead to chaos.

The Interviewer: What is hindering the formation of a new government in Lebanon today?

Mr. Fares: The President of the Republic has already set a date for consultations of the deputies regarding the nomination of a Prime Minister. Unfortunately, the opposition has stated that it will not name anyone, and will only hand a list of its own conditions. What should take place is that we name a Prime Minister, and when he starts looking for ministers in his government, then the opposition can address itself to the Prime Minister. All should participate in a national government that is responsible of the welfare of the country, and whose obligation would be to follow up with the investigations concerning the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Rafik Hariri.

The Interviewer: The opposition expressed itself in the past weeks and its demonstrations led to the fall of the government. Today, we hear another voice, the demonstration taking place is backing Syria and refuses foreign interference. Do you think that a new government will be formed, unhindered?

Mr. Fares: Demonstrators on both sides have expressed their opinions, and all of them agreed, without exception, to hold the Lebanese flag which is very positive. But to express an opinion is one thing, and to form a government is another. Tomorrow, the deputies will name a would-be prime minister, and the latter would carry his own consultations with all factions in order to form a national government. The latter will discuss the electoral laws that will guide the elections taking place in May.

The Interviewer: Mr. Fares, the United States and France have expressed their desire to see the Lebanese elections take place in a transparent and open atmosphere. Does their interference affect those elections?

Mr. Fares: Elections should take place at their appointed time. We represent the oldest democracy in the region, and our Constitution goes back to 1926. So, nobody in the world can outbid us in this respect. We have always had free elections, and the world has always watched our elections that we carried with transparency, honesty and freedom. What we need now is a new government that will issue the electoral laws upon which the elections will be based. I hope that no faction will seek to block the issuing of the electoral laws in order to postpone the elections.