Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers speech on latest developments

- Brothers and sisters, [may the] peace and mercy of God be on all of you.- Despite the riskiness of events happening around us - in Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya - I [feel] that I should address Lebanese affairs.- I will try to be short regarding the Lebanese developments.- First, I would like to address the repercussions of WikiLeaks and where are we heading.- Second, I want to address what is going on in Cote D’Ivoire and the situation of the Lebanese people there.- Third, I want to talk about outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s comments on Iran’s policies.- Fourth, I want to address the threats against Lebanese residing in Bahrain and Fifth, I want to discuss the developments regarding the Roumieh Prison [violence].- First, [I will address the leaked US cables]. Al-Akhbar newspaper has published a series of cables, some of which were sent by US envoys [to Lebanon] and officials.- We can categorize them based on statements made by officials [and] the judgment of the US officials regarding their meetings with [Lebanese figures].- The first group of these documents dealt with meetings with March 8 figures, while the second group involved meetings conducted with March 14 figures.- Regarding the first group, which regards the meetings between US officials and March 8 figures, there have been attempts to provoke divisions between March 8 parties by exploiting [the WikiLeaks documents].- Regarding the meetings [between US officials] and Amal Movement figures [during the 2006 July War]: There are issues about the war [of which] I would like to remind [everyone]. From the first day of war, until its end, I would say that Speaker Nabih Berri was a partner in ending this war. We had the same concerns and were coordinating [our efforts in 2006]. [Berri] worked day and night to protect Lebanon and achieve the victory of the Resistance [over Israel].- From the first day of war, we agreed on distributing the responsibilities; I was handling the field [operations] and [Berri] was handling negotiations.- The interpretations of [then-US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey] Feltman cannot [harm Berri’s] credibility.- The Amal Movement [headed by Berri] was a partner [during the July War]. We saw nothing but cooperation from Amal and we would not have triumphed if it were not for [them].- Those who are targeting [Hezbollah] have always [aimed to drive a wedge between Hezbollah and Amal].- I tell those who want to divide Amal and Hezbollah to give up [their attempts].- Regarding the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) issues that were mentioned [in WikiLeaks], it was  a minor issue. The FPM base [and position] is known, and I do not think that [these issues] will affect the FPM’s relations [with Hezbollah].- About [the WikiLeaks] involving [Progressive Socialist Party leader] MP Walid Jumblatt; He had already declared that all comments he made in the past were [due to his former alliance with March 14] and were part of a phase [before Jumblatt re-aligned with March 8].- I would like to say that Al-Akhbar newspaper does not follow Hezbollah. [It is] a part of [the March 8 coalition] but has its own management.- We encouraged the paper to publish the WikiLeaks cables, but we did not help them do it.- We were not aware what would be published [by the daily].- The second issue regarding WikiLeaks, is about the meetings of [March 14] figures with [US officials]. In general there is one [predominant topic] of all such conversations.  I do not want to discuss in detail what every figure has said. - We notice that the March 14 coalition, from the start of 2005 until today, basically wants to isolate the Resistance, harm it and put an end to it.- Why do they want [an end to Hezbollah]? Because there was a deal made between March 14 figures and the United States.- They can deny it. Let them do so and I [will] take back what I am saying now. - There is a deal between the US and March 14: [Washington] told them to [terminate] the Resistance and [in exchange] they will be granted the rule.- What was Hezbollah’s crime? Did Hezbollah want to take the rule from March 14 in 2005? Hezbollah’s crime is that it is a thorn in the eye of the Zionists.- Does this mentality protect Lebanon? Is [this mentality] competent to design a national defense strategy and preserve national unity?  Can this mentality, with this level of plotting and hatred, build a modern and capable Lebanese state? - Today, the Resistance remains and [March 14 figures] are no longer in the government. No one will be able to harm the Resistance.- I call on [March 14] to review their stance and to [beware of taking this mistake too far].- I would like to tell [March 14] that this mentality will not take you anywhere. - This is not how the country is run and how its future is guaranteed.- In Lebanon, no one [party] has the advantage to [annul] another. - Second of all, regarding the situation in Cote D’Ivoire, we are facing a national and humanitarian problem concerning the Lebanese people residing in Abidjan. - The cabinet [before it collapsed] should have addressed ways to contain any possible problem in Cote D’Ivoire since the conflict in the country began [in 2010].- Instead of collaborating to resolve the situation, [outgoing PM Saad Hariri’s] camp started firing at the parties who are finding solutions to the crisis, namely the Foreign Affairs Ministry [headed by minister Ali Shami, who represents Berri].- The Lebanese people [in Abidjan] are calling on their state to support them in confronting the distress they are going through.- Third of all, [I would like to address] PM [Saad] Hariri’s comments on Iranian policy in the region. We are proud that we are allied with Iran and Syria. We have nothing to hide. And when a state that has stood with Lebanon is harmed, we cannot remain silent.- We cannot remain silent, especially when a premier makes comments [against] Iran and makes it out to be the root of [all] problems in Arab world, [instead of implicating] Israel.- If it were not for Iran’s support [of Lebanon] following the 2006 July War, a lot of houses would not have been rebuilt. - This is not how Iran [should be] treated. [Even] if [someone] is upset with us because we collapsed his government, [he] should leave the Iranians alone.- The problem is that [March 14 demands that others observe] certain ethics and mottos...They should be the ones who commit to them first.- March 14 [says] that Hezbollah should not drag Lebanon into the policy of regional axes… Why don’t they [take their own advice]?- Hariri should be the first one to take Lebanon out of the policy of axes.- [Next I will address] the expulsion of some Lebanese from Bahrain. There have been so many insults against Syria since 2005 from Lebanon. [But] we did not see Syria expel any Lebanese person [like Bahrain did in the past month].- I call on the Bahraini government to [retract] these policies [regarding the expulsion of Lebanese people] because they are wrong.- It is wrong to pressure Lebanese citizens in Bahrain, [especially since] these people have nothing to do with our political stances.- [Now I would like to discuss] the situation in the Roumieh Prison. When you place more people in compounds [than the structures are designed to hold], the people will not be able to take it. March 14 figures [exploited] the [recent violence] in Roumieh and accused Hezbollah of instigating the clashes for political gain. This is not fair, how can a country be built on such bases?- I call for the resolution of the issue regarding Roumieh Prison’s inmates, because it is a humanitarian matter, not a political or sectarian one.- The last point I would like to address is the formation of a new cabinet [headed by Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati]. - [After the collapse of Hariri’s cabinet], there was a majority [March 8] that nominated [Mikati]. There were attempts to make it look like the Shia [Hezbollah] were behind naming a Sunni PM [Mikati].- They also attempted to incite [discord] by saying that I [was the one who chose Mikati] for premiership. Those statements are unfortunate.- I am proud to say that I am hiding because the Israelis are eyeing me and want to kill me.- There are resisting forces who have embarrassed some Arab leaders.- It is a shame that the Future Movement or March 14 [claim] that [Hezbollah is behind the selection of Mikati and is engineering the new cabinet].I do not think that [March 14’s] provocation will succeed. Those who provoke are losers. [March 14’s] conduct in 2005 was based on provoking other [parties].- It is normal for [the cabinet formation process] to take time.- We are not the ones who are forming the cabinet. Everyone is keen on forming the cabinet, but [the final say] is up to the PM-designate.- A quasi final solution [exists] for the formation of the cabinet.- We want the cabinet to be formed as quickly as possible. - Parliamentary blocs have the right to demand [certain] cabinet shares. - In any case I want to reassure the Lebanese people that all talk saying that some [March 8] parties want to obstruct the cabinet formation is unfounded.- The people should be patient. We are working to form a cabinet that will be able to protect the country.- We are determined to confront all obstacles and form the Mikati cabinet soon.- I want to say that we do not have two nationalities. We were born [in Lebanon], here we stay and here we die, and we will not leave [this country]. - We resisted war [with Israel] because this is what we are meant to do. - May the peace and mercy of God be with you all.....