Hizbullah: Assad's death will change nothing; no gains for "Israel"

Hizbullah's Deputy Secretary General his Eminence Sheikh Nahim Qassem said the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad "was a great and strong man who had served Lebanon and its Resistance besides contributing in the liberation process and having great roles."

Speaking at a commemoration rally in the town of Aramta, Qassem said, "We tell those who are betting on changes following President Assad's death: all the things are moving in the direction of a quiet shift of authority without any major changes neither in Syria nor in Lebanon. ""Israel"" will not be getting any gains at this historic stage."

Sheikh Qassem reiterated Hizbullah's position on the collaborators, demanding strictness in their trials in order to fortify the country and the citizens and return things to normal course.

The Lebanese law punishes theft with detention in public right affairs up to one year. Is it then acceptable that those who have betrayed their country have some people seeking excuses for them to show that they were not traitors for 22 years but poor oppressed people, and during their fear they had been forced to kill and destroy", he said.

This logic is neither acceptable nor credible; who says these collaborators are affiliated with one sect or group? He asked.

Strict trials must be adopted to prevent others from daring to collaborate (with the enemy) in the future and in order to not to read in the newspapers that some wish they were collaborators as they see the lenient trials, Sheikh Qassem concluded.

Manar TV, 12-6-2000.