Lebanon/Dialogue a template

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 Lebanon/Dialogue a template
The Daily Star/Dec. 24, 2014

The launch of dialogue Tuesday between the Future Movement and Hezbollah has generated hopes that the process will go beyond empty gestures and phrases. With every passing day in the region, the developments on Lebanon’s borders and in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere make it imperative that the dialogue achieves something of substance.

The dialogue launch was preceded by a visit to Beirut by Iranian parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who unfortunately commented that Hezbollah is more influential than some states. Perhaps Larijani was unaware of how fragile Lebanon’s political situation is, but such comments only harm the chances that the Future-Hezbollah dialogue will bear fruit – and even Hezbollah’s recent rhetoric hasn’t adopted such an objectionable stance. In short, Hezbollah should behave as one party among many in Lebanon, and not a group that aspires to wield more influence than the state, if dialogue has any chance of succeeding.

Moreover, the dialogue should also prompt Lebanon’s Christians to follow a parallel path of bridging differences, with dialogue between the community’s two leading parties currently stalled. The goal is a healthy dialogue process in which all leading groups participate.

As representatives of the Sunni and Shiite communities – even though they have members and allies from various components of society – Future and Hezbollah will have their work cut out for them. On the one hand, they are expected to help reduce political tension. But on the other, their joint message should not portray themselves as the “only game in town.”

They must encourage Christian politicians to take the initiative to break the impasse over electing the president. The dialogue will be a true test of leadership, as in acting in a way that is emulated by others.