- What do you have to say on this day? - What I used to say before it. - Are you trying to avoid answering? - Not at all. This is my style. I have not changed. - What do you mean you have not changed? - It means I do not like sensationalist statements as I do not like to fuel the fire, pour salt into the wounds, open the windows of strife, revive the suffering, trigger the desire for retaliation or base policies on anger even if it is justified. - What happened on that distant, yet close, day? - What was written in the newspapers. - You must have additional information! - Even if I did, I would not reveal my information. I would accept the injustice perpetrated against me, provided that injustice is lifted off my country. What I did not say before that day will not be said after it. The one who does not feel compassion for his country has no courage. - Who was the primary target that day? - The country and its right to live in stability and prosperity and the policy of building bridges and tearing down the walls which were meant to break ties. - Did the operation work? - Partially. It eliminated an instigator but was surprised to see the birth of an instigator against the same policy. - What about your personal fate? - It does not matter. You know I am a believer and the fate of the country is much more important than that of any individual. - Are you awaiting the findings of the tribunal? - I am awaiting the establishment of the state. - What about the tribunal? - It is as important as the extent to which it serves the birth of the state, without which the injustice will be repeated and darkness will prevail. Without the state, everything will be lost. We would lose the truth even if it is uncovered and the blood of all the martyrs from all sides, the martyrs of the wars which erupted before and after that day, would have all been spilled in vain. - Which state do you mean? - The state of coexistence under the roof of freedom and of competitiveness under the umbrella of democracy and the law. The pan-Arab state that tolerates others. A stable and prosperous state. You know that I love blueprints and the execution of blueprints. I love accomplishments and seeing streets full of life, an airport filled with visitors, planes landing and taking off, ships dropping anchor then sailing again. I love seeing Beirut completely lit, attracting tourists and investors and relying on the successful. - While you are waiting for this state, does desperation sneak into your heart? - Desperation would lead to the abyss. Our destiny is to try and keep trying to save the Lebanese model from the craziness which keeps setting it on fire. I do not conceal my concern. Sometimes I feel that the number of experts in the destruction of bridges is much higher than the number of experts in building them, and that the engineers of obstruction and paralysis are much more numerous than those of accomplishment and of know-how. It is our destiny to keep the promise and the dream alive, and to never stop trying. - Have you committed mistakes? - Yes. All those who work make mistakes. The ones who are loyal make mistakes but correct them. However, I never committed a sin and never caused the assassination of a person, nor of anything beautiful or a tree. - What about the tribunal? - It has issued its sentence. - What comes next? - The tribunal of the Lebanese formula has sentenced the Lebanese to coexist without oppression, monopolization, isolation or marginalization. Any other option would be temporary and highly costly. As for the tribunal of geography and history, it has sentenced the Lebanese and the Syrians to coexist, mend and fix until they can find a common language of actual interests and middle ground. Nonetheless, normal relations with Syria should be accompanied by normal relations among the Lebanese. - Does this mean you support the opening of a new chapter? - Both internally and externally, based on the logic of the state, on concessions made for the sake of the state and on meeting in its institutions. Any delay will in doing so will jeopardize all the facts and will waste all the martyrs. - Did you listen to the speeches delivered on Martyrs Square? - Yes I did. No one called for the closing of the window. I was especially impressed by the last speech. It felt as though it was me who had written it, and as though it was me who had delivered it. - How did you feel after listening to it? - I could almost say that what was circulated by the news agencies on February 14, 2005 was not true or that it was inaccurate.
