Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said he was more determined than ever to discuss a national defense strategy for Lebanon, stressing that keeping weapons "secret" was part of Hizbullah's power.

"We insist, now more than anytime before, on the need to discuss and come up with a defense strategy for Lebanon so that we all know how we can defend our country," Nasrallah said in a televised speech to supporters Thursday night, marking the second anniversary of a U.N.-brokered cease-fire that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah.

The Hizbullah chief also stressed the need to discuss two more crucial points.

"Coming up with a national strategy to rebuild the Lebanese state as well as a strategy to settle the deep-rooted economic and social problems are two crucial items to be discussed," he said.

Nasrallah said that he has informed President Michel Suleiman's advisers of the need to debate these issues during roundtable talks.

He described the economic situation in Lebanon as "a total disaster," stressing that failing to deal with this problem "will lead to a total collapse of the Lebanese economy."

He made a point of not revealing whether the group now has anti-aircraft missile systems that could stand up to Israeli air raids.

"There has been an Israeli uproar about the reinforcement of Hizbullah's strength," he said. "There has been talk of sophisticated arms and an air defense system and threats if Hizbullah uses this kind of system."

"No one can expect me to stand up and say (whether) we possess new weapons or we don't," he added. "Keeping (weapons) secret is part of ... (Hizbullah's) strength. This is part of directing the battle of liberation and resistance against this (Israeli) enemy."

Nasrallah said his fighters won't be frightened by Israeli threats to attack Lebanon.

He accused Israel of planning to assassinate Hizbullah leaders, saying this would not deter the Shiite group from continuing its battle against the Jewish state.

"I tell the Zionists: We don't fear you. Say whatever you want and do whatever you want. We know that you are planning new assassinations of resistance leaders. But this will not make us retreat," he said. "We are staying here and standing fast here."

Turning to rival Lebanese leaders, Nasrallah said that "if a 33-day war on the resistance didn't defeat it then fiery speeches in Parliament won't change anything in the political scene."

Nasrallah called on Hizbullah politicians and MPs to hold their temper despite harsh criticism directed at Hizbullah and its arsenal.

He hailed two key agreements between Lebanon and Syria -- the establishment of diplomatic ties and the deal to resume demarcating the border between the two neighbors.

Nasrallah said the developments ushered in "a new phase and signals a qualitative development" in relations between Lebanon and Syria.

"A positive attitude will help in solving all pending issues between the two countries," he said.

Nasrallah also surprisingly sent his greetings to Beirut and its residents.

"We are no aliens to Beirut," he said. "We are an integral part of the capital and we wish all the best to Beirut and its residents."

He was responding to calls from leaders of the ruling March 14 coalition, particularly Druze MP Walid Jumblat, who had asked Nasrallah to "salute" Beirut as a sign of reconciliation after the May battles that saw Hizbullah wresting control of west Beirut.