Beirut (AsiaNews) - "Change" is the battle cry launched by both Lebanese President Émile Lahoud and Saad Hariri, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and leader of one of the party blocks running in this month's parliamentary election.

In an interview with AsiaNews, Hariri said that the "battle for change" that must include justice, a fight against corruption and achieving the country's self-government after almost 30 years of Syrian presence.

For his part, President Lahoud, in a message released on the fifth anniversary of the liberation of southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation, said that the Lebanese must "work together" to speed up the movement of change" and, for this reason, he urged them to take part in the upcoming elections.

"You must," the statement said, "give legitimacy to the institutions. You must also speak your mind so that partisan interests do not drown out your voice. Your unity contributed to the liberation of the country; now it can equally impose change".

As for the existing electoral law, the President's statement said that "it had been impossible to come up with a new law and this should be reason enough for citizens to go and vote for change. [Even] if we are under the impression that it [change] faces an uphill battle, we must understand that it will soon come to pass".

Lahoud also said that Lebanon was the only Arab country ever to drive Israeli occupation forces out of its territory and the only Arab country to regain its legitimate territorial rights without making any compromise or concessions.

He reiterated that Lebanon would continue the struggle against the Jewish state until a global, comprehensive and just peace is achieved, one  that includes the "release of all Lebanese detainees in Israeli jails, the Palestinians "right of return" to their homeland and the rejection of their settlement in Lebanon".

Saad Hariri confirmed that the "battle for change" had begun, but claimed that there were many who were opposed to it. Hence, "it won't be easy [to achieve] as some believe".

Hariri, who heads the Tayyar al-Mustaqbal (Future Tide Movement), is convinced that the "Lebanon has already started to govern itself. This is the new reality. And this is an opportunity we must take".

"Despite the difficulties, we were able to have the heads of the security services replaced," he said. "However, this does not mean that the process of change must stop. It must eventually touch all the symbols of corruptions in political life and in governmental bureaucracy".

Indeed, according to Saad Hariri, "it won't happen without reforming the political system and the governmental bureaucracy."

Corruption is rooted in a system of 'tutelage, i.e. the interference, by the security services over the affairs of the state and in the practices of political protection provided by corrupt elements in the bureaucracy.

"We must reform the justice system, which is the backbone of any administrative reform and investment policy [designed to revive] the various sectors of the economy," he stressed.

"Undoubtedly, a justice system that is fair will whip the private sector into action, jump-starting the economy and creating many jobs for young people."

"Corruption does not affect only the governmental bureaucracy," Hariri insisted. "Political corruption touches how the government is run but also how the citizens' needs are met. There are numerous vital projects funded by international agencies worth US$ 1.5 billion that have been languishing for too long as a result of arbitrary decisions with very negative consequences for the people of Lebanon. Not to mention the deliberate delays in giving permits to construction companies set to build in downtown Beirut and develop the country's many resort areas. Because of this, investments have been blocked."

Hariri, who yesterday met the Apostolic Nuncio Luigi Gatti, said he was committed to backing the "private sector" through legislation that would "remove the obstacles" on its path.

In the meantime, General Michel Aoun in a press conference held yesterday in Rabieh said that "there was still time" to work out an alliance with Hariri. However, any hope for a deal with Walid Jumblatt was no longer in the cards. (Y.H.)