BEIRUT — Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said on Tuesday that Hizbullah would overcome the conspiracy of the Special Tribunal on Lebanon (STL) and emerge stronger than before. Nasrallah also declared his support for the dialogue initiative launched by President Michel Sleiman, and denied claims that Hizbullah was not serious in dealing with the dialogue, recalling of all political factions that the Resistance party was the first to present its defensive strategy.

Nasrallah was speaking during the second ceremony organized by the Martyr Association for the graduation of martyrs’ sons and daughters who became self-reliant. The ceremony was held at Shahed Educational Complex in the southern suburb of Beirut.   

“A resistance that was not shaken by the most powerful air force in the region will not be shaken by (STL Prosecutor Daniel) Bellemare, (STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel) Fransen or (STL President Antonio) Cassese,” Sayyed Nasrallah declared.

“I tell them that their weak hopes that the STL could put an end to the Resistance would fail, just like their big hopes in the July 2006 war against Hizbullah failed,” Nasrallah went on to say. “Hizbullah has overcome the July war that was aimed at crushing the Resistance and emerged stronger than before. The same scenario will repeat itself as Hizbullah will overcome the tribunal conspiracy and emerge stronger than before, God willing.”

In another note, Hezbollah Secretary General declared his support for any national dialogue or meeting among Lebanese at the dialogue table. His eminence rejected claims that Hezbollah was not serious in this matter, and recalled that the Resistance party was the first to propose its vision for the defensive strategy.

Nasrallah also hailed the latest stances taken by Sheikh Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmad Tayeb. He expressed full respect for the cleric’s statements, especially those related to the Shi’a, Sunnis, and the necessity to achieve rapprochement among Muslims. “Sheikh Al-Azhar did not speak of general, wasted slogans but went straight to the heart of the matter,” Nasrallah said.

“We used to say that the divisions were political, but many sides insisted on giving them sectarian and religious aspects. Now, it has been proven that whoever resorts to sectarian rhetoric has neither a cause nor logic,” he added.