(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in Beirut on a rare visit to participate in a ceremony honoring his late father Rafic Hariri, who was assassinated on Feb. 14, 2005.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 10-year anniversary since the former premier’s death, Hariri said his father’s legacy for Lebanon “remains valid” today.
“Ten years ago, the first earthquake struck dear Beirut,” Hariri said. “They assassinated Rafic Hariri and killed a major symbol for success and construction. Throughout 10 years, several quakes occurred one after one to reach unprecedented levels of organized chaos and murder.”
Hariri added that those behind his father’s assassination are still working to kill his legacy of religious unity and coexistence.
“The martyr premier exerted efforts to confront civil war and he rebuilt the state and here we are facing a plan to divide it and destroy its institutions,” he said. “We are facing a plan to empty the state and destroy its institutions and we’re facing a marginalization of Lebanon in its Arab and international ties and a deterioration in development and the standard of living of the Lebanese.”
Hariri criticized Hezbollah for involving Lebanon into regional matters, adding that Lebanon has “no right” to interfere in the foreign affairs of other countries.
“Lebanon is not in an axis that extends from Iran to Syria to Palestine,” Hariri said. “Lebanon is not in any axis and the Lebanese are not products to be used on anyone’s table.”
But he also underlined the importance of dialogue with his political rivals, saying talks launched between the two parties in December were “serious.”
“Dialogue with Hezbollah is not “political luxury” or a step to leave behind the points of contention,” he said. “Dialogue is simply a necessity in this period — an Islamic need to contain the Islamic tensions and a national need due to the ongoing vacuum.”
Hariri urged Hezbollah to withdraw from Syria, saying Lebanon should not have to bear consequences of the conflict’s spillover.
“We support the state and army in the face of extremism and terrorism and there is no middle ground between moderation and extremism,” he said. “There is no middle ground between the army and the militia, between national unity and civil war, or between a sovereign, independent Lebanon and a divided Lebanon.”
Hariri’s last visit to Lebanon was in August following deadly attacks in the northeastern town of Arsal. He has been living in self-imposed exile between France and Saudi Arabia since 2011.
WATCH Saad Hariri’s full remarks:
RELATED: Lebanese officials remember Rafic Hariri. Read more.