Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told Future News on Monday that those who went to Syria – a reference to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh and former President Emile Lahoud – did not go to celebrate Saint Maroun’s Day, which is what they said was the purpose of their visit.

They are using the holiday as an excuse to visit Syria, he said, adding, “They are ashamed of their political alliance [with Syria] and want to give it a Maronite cover.”

Geagea said that the men’s visit to the village of Brad is a political one, adding that Maronites in Lebanon do not need to be protected by any party or any other state.

The LF leader also called on the Lebanese to participate in the fifth anniversary of former Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination on February 14, saying that the March 14 alliance needs to make more of an effort to mobilize its supporters this year. This is especially true in light of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s split from the alliance last August, said Geagea.

“If all parties want the ceremony to be a unifying occasion, then let them participate [in the event],” he said, adding that the occasion is neither a challenge to Syria nor Hezbollah.

Geagea commented on some parties’ call for turning the commemoration into a national occasion, and rejected “to strip the ceremony of its political context, since the event is to confirm our principles and our political vision.”

He also touched on the Israeli-Lebanese issue, saying that if Tel Aviv threatens to attack Lebanon, then it would be because Hezbollah is considered a part of the Iranian system. “Israel is currently concerned with Tehran,” he added.

He said he expects an Israeli-Iranian confrontation to take place, calling on President Michel Sleiman to shoulder his responsibilities, especially to maneuver the volatile regional situation and avoid its possible repercussions on Lebanon.

“President Sleiman says that Lebanon is strong because of its army and the Resistance, however, we disagree,” Geagea said, adding that Sleiman’s statements are closer to those of the March 8 coalition.

He also called on Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to work on resolving the issue of Hezbollah’s arms.

-NOW Lebanon