Interview with the Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr. Issam Fares on CNBC
15/2/2005


• What are the latest arrangements taken towards the funeral procession of the deceased former Prime Minister, Mr. Rafik Hariri?

To tell you the truth as soon as we heard the news we were summoned to the Presidential Palace where there was a meeting that included the military upper command. Thereafter, the Ministerial cabinet met and took many decisions including the formation of a committee headed by me and four ministers in order to coordinate efforts with the family of Mr. Hariri towards the official arrangements of the funeral because Mr. Hariri is an exceptional person who worked very hard towards the rebuilding of Lebanon. But the family insisted on espousing the responsibility itself, while leaving to the government the task of overseeing the security of the procession. The family opted for a popular funeral procession despite the fact that I expressed the wish of having both a popular and an official ceremony.

• As a minister, how do you assess the presence of the opposition at the home of Mr. Hariri, and its demand for the resignation of the Cabinet and the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon?

The fact that there is an opposition with specific demands is a normal thing in our country. All of us as Lebanese condemn the assassination of the former Prime Minister and want to do something exceptional during the funeral ceremony. This is why the government has ordered three days of official mourning, and the government took upon itself to see over all the security arrangements, and of course we have asked the judiciary to start investigation who might be the perpetrators.

• The opposition has demanded a strike for three days and not only mourning in response to the assassination of Hariri.

This, of course, is an emotional reaction that we understand.

• What about the reactions of the opposition?

This is their stand, and we respect that stand. We are as touched as the oppositions by the death of Mr. Hariri. His assassination is an assault on the security and stability of the country.

• Thank you Mr. Issam Fares, Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon.