Aoun: Cabinet Must Come before Dialogue, I Don't Object to Hizbullah Staying in Syria in Absence of Political Solution
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Wednesday said he is not against the continued deployment of Hizbullah fighters in Syria “in the absence of a political solution” to the conflict, noting that resuming national dialogue before forming a new cabinet in Lebanon would be “fruitless.”
“We have recently proposed a plan for the refugees and said that the solution does not lie in bringing donations to keep them in the country, but rather to facilitate their return home as any region in Syria is twice as big as Lebanon and they can go to certain regions, whether they are with the opposition or with the regime,” said Aoun during an interview on NBN television.
“The Lebanese are the ones suffering from 'inhumanity' amid the influx of refugees and (Syrian) President (Bashar) Assad expressed his approval of their return, but our officials are not exerting any efforts in this regard,” Aoun warned.
He noted that “today, Lebanon is in the eye of the storm and there is reluctance to form a new cabinet, not obstruction” as some parties are saying.
“We had asked the government to at least register those (Syrian refugees) who are already in the country, but today they are announcing estimates because there are no official figures,” Aoun pointed out.
The FPM leader held the ministers of interior and defense and the Higher Defense Council responsible for the refugee crisis, adding that “those who don't want to act always claim that they can't.”
“The entire world is preaching to us about being humane, but meanwhile they are facilitating the entry of arms into Syria,” Aoun said.
“Nowadays, Lebanese business owners are hiring Syrian employees instead of Lebanese employees and the Lebanese are suffering because of this,” he added.
Aoun cautioned that “Lebanon will incur 12 billion dollars in expenses for the issue of refugees.”
“We told them (Lebanese supporters of Syrian uprising) that they have liberated Syria from its residents, not from the tyranny they claim to be fighting,” he went on to say.
“In the absence of a political solution, I do not object to Hizbullah fighters staying in Syria,” he announced, in an apparent change of heart, after having voiced reservations several times over his ally's involvement in the Syrian war.
Aoun pointed out that “today, there is no political maturity but rather criminality against the Lebanese people,” adding that “the first solution would be achieving balance among the three authorities, as the president does not have any powers now.”
“Our problems are nothing compared to Lebanon's size and what's happening in the region,” he said.
“We have a chance to continue the implementation of the Taef Accord if someone imposes reform and enforces the constitution, that's why I have suggested the election of the president by the people,” Aoun stated.
Asked whether he intends to run for president in 2014, Aoun said: “If this adventure doesn't happen, Lebanon will not survive.”
“I can diagnose the disease: the pillars of governance in the republic are inexistent, topped by the constitution, while the Constitutional Council was paralyzed through pressures and the laws are not being respected,” he added.
But later during the interview, Aoun clarified: “I will not be a candidate for presidency, which means I will not visit anyone and ask them to elect me. Those who want to elect me are welcome to do so.”
He also said that Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh “is free not to name me for the presidency.”
Turning to the issue of the stalled cabinet formation process, Aoun said: “There are pressures on Prime Minister-designate (Tammam) Salam but I don't know who is exerting them, because there are several players and their minds are 'occupied' and they only act when they receive orders.”
“I do not accept to take part in a cabinet in which my ministers are named by the president and the PM-designate,” he stressed.
Aoun pointed out that “engaging in dialogue before forming the cabinet would be fruitless.”
“I cannot take responsibility for an endless dialogue,” he added, revealing that the FPM “might participate in the October parliamentary session.”
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02 October 2013, 21:48
Aoun: Suleiman Franjieh is free not to name me for the presidency.
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02 October 2013, 21:47
Aoun: I will not be a candidate for presidency, which means I will not visit anyone and ask them to elect me. Those who want to elect me are welcome to do so.
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02 October 2013, 21:32
Aoun: Engaging in dialogue before forming the cabinet would be fruitless and I cannot take responsibility for an endless dialogue. We might participate in the October parliamentary session.
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02 October 2013, 21:31
Aoun: I do not accept to take part in a cabinet in which my ministers are named by the president and the PM-designate.
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02 October 2013, 21:26
Aoun: There are pressures on PM-designate Salam but I don't know who is exerting them, because there are several players and their minds are "occupied" and they only act when they receive orders.
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02 October 2013, 21:21
Aoun: The chemical weapons became a burden for Syria and it gave them up to rescue other interests.
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02 October 2013, 21:19
Aoun: Iran is the only superpower in the region and I believe that a deal has been made with Tehran but the final outcome will take time.
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02 October 2013, 21:17
Aoun: The U.S. is only interested in an international settlement over the weapons of mass destruction.
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02 October 2013, 21:16
Aoun: I don't think that the Saudi king and President Rouhani will meet, according to my analysis of the course of the events.
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02 October 2013, 21:15
Aoun on the issue of "building the state": Hizbullah had priorities related to the Shiite community and the regional situation, which prevented it from taking decisive stances over the issue of the state like we did.
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02 October 2013, 21:15
Aoun: Autonomous security does not last and it does not scare me. It came as a result of the authorities' impotence which they have acknowledged.
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02 October 2013, 21:05
Aoun: I can diagnose the disease: the pillars of governance in the republic are inexistent, topped by the constitution, while the Constitutional Council was paralyzed through pressures and the laws are not being respected.
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02 October 2013, 21:04
Aoun on his willingness to run for president in 2014: If this adventure doesn't happen, Lebanon will not survive.
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02 October 2013, 21:03
Aoun: We have a chance to continue the implementation of the Taef Accord if someone imposes reform and enforces the constitution, that's why I have suggested the election of the president by the people.
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02 October 2013, 21:00
Aoun: Our problems are nothing compared to Lebanon's size and what's happening in the region.
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02 October 2013, 20:51
Aoun: Today, there is no political maturity but rather criminality against the Lebanese people. The first solution would be achieving balance among the three authorities, as the president does not have any powers now.
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02 October 2013, 20:47
Aoun: We told them that they have liberated Syria from its residents, not from the tyranny they claim to be fighting.
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02 October 2013, 20:47
Aoun: Lebanon will incur 12 billion dollars in expenses for the issue of refugees.
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02 October 2013, 20:46
Aoun: Nowadays, Lebanese business owners are hiring Syrian employees instead of Lebanese employees and the Lebanese are suffering because of this.
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02 October 2013, 20:44
Aoun: In the absence of a political solution, I do not object to Hizbullah fighters staying in Syria.
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02 October 2013, 20:42
Aoun: The entire world is preaching to us about being humane, but meanwhile they are facilitating the entry of arms into Syria.
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02 October 2013, 20:42
Aoun: The ministers of interior and defense and the Higher Defense Council are responsible for the refugee crisis. Those who don't want to act always claim that they can't.
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02 October 2013, 20:41
Aoun: We had asked the government to at least register those who are already in the country, but today they are announcing estimates because there are no official figures.
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02 October 2013, 20:40
Aoun: Today, Lebanon is in the eye of the storm and there is reluctance to form a new cabinet, not obstruction.
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02 October 2013, 20:36
Aoun: The Lebanese are the ones suffering from "inhumanity" amid the influx of refugees and President Assad expressed his approval of their return, but our officials are not exerting any efforts in this regard.
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02 October 2013, 20:36
FPM leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on NBN: We have recently proposed a plan for the refugees and said that the solution does not lie in bringing donations to keep them in the country, but rather to facilitate their return home as any region in Syria is twice as big as Lebanon and they can go to certain regions, whether they are with the opposition or with the regime.
03 October 2013, 10:04
710
General army commander, prime minister, leader of the biggest Lebanese Christian block & soon Mr. President.
03 October 2013, 10:29
77
hear hear! Can't wait!! He'll kick the saud traitors out in no time, too.
03 October 2013, 12:25
59
they pretend they dont care about him, but everytime he speaks the article is the most read and most commented.
funny how 90% of the comments are unrelated to his speech, just hollow insults, i guess it's a knee-jerk reaction from losers.
03 October 2013, 16:19
47
1.he is the only one who fought the syrian occupation while your masters gave them keys of beirut n betrayed us all with them, now when they r out 3amyetmarjalo haha:) so plz leave this coward thing to others. (get your facts right concerning his leave to F.embassy if that what u based ur arg. on)
2.'kicking saudi traitor' GMA will make a true strong government not a 'company' government as your leaders did throughout 30yrs in this day no one will be above the law anymore.
03 October 2013, 16:24
01
karim: so too do people stop and stare in awe ans wonder as a volcano explodes in all its fury, much to the dismay of m14. Your argument need not apply, maybe it can find work in m14's useless-rhetorics department for being nonsensical and also divertive while appearing meaningful.
Also ya zake why not mention baaabaaa who attacked the LAF with the help of hafez assad, and that the general told his men to stop the fighting which most did but some didn't due to communications error and ended up sacrificing their lives for geagea's then syrian masters. And now you say the general is at fault, and geagea is to be trusted, and that he's 'independent and learnt his lesson' along with saying m14 is not 100% saudi sympathizers. You know you're a failure at life when you try to pull those above you, unbelievably above you, down to your m14 level.
02 October 2013, 21:05
1911
He comes from an island belonging to China, now we have a proof.
What is it? He's 'senile'.
02 October 2013, 21:10
1810
He was in his pyjama and bantoufles.... Baby sitting for his Bassil grandchildren.
02 October 2013, 21:14
2011
Aoun: In the absence of a political solution, I do not object to Hizbullah fighters staying in Syria. 25 minutes ago
But just a while ago kanaan called for true neutrality.
Which is it?
Get your party and statements in order.
02 October 2013, 21:48
209
Banimå, did I ever thank you for dessecting, analyzing, and sharing these terrible people's declarations?
You do a great job at it. You and some other few people here, our friends. I don't bother anymore because I find Lebanon hopeless, especially after reading some sick sentences by our compatriots right here. Well, thank-you, I can say you often express my views and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Merci!
02 October 2013, 22:02
199
Arzak- how similar is that to the so called "conversations" we have with 2ertet M8 here? Selective memory and they are always right even if they contradict themselves. their statements only apply to that specific scenario at that specific time only.
02 October 2013, 21:18
189
moreover, against the policy of disassociation of the gvt he is part of! and he asks for a strong state when he is the first one to go against it? 3an jad he is getting senile..... LOL
02 October 2013, 21:20
199
One day when he falls from grace, we ll find some Farsi coins on the ground.
Can't wait to hear FT try and defend this burning ship. GMA - you re a cowardly servant
02 October 2013, 21:37
1811
Everyone, expect the PAID mouthpieces to show up anytime now. They're getting the last minute instructions.
Expect a wave of red thumbs that will look odd, because the people behind them are odd!
02 October 2013, 22:29
217
It is a pathetic job, because Lebanese expats like us are never fooled by him. He's just shaming Lebanon by trying to mislead naharnet readers who aren't exclusively Lebanese.
02 October 2013, 22:23
209
Your sarcasm!
You'd be almost credible to all if we didn't know them better.
02 October 2013, 22:41
137
she is funny, isnt she? She is like a mom praising her children....
02 October 2013, 22:24
216
"Some men are listened to when they speak. Some are feared. Some are respected."
by his sheep only who take them for gods! LOL....
02 October 2013, 22:25
217
Bakkir! Not even all shias, just those who swear allegiance to the Faqih. Even the amal ones get beaten every now and then.
02 October 2013, 22:26
1218
Make the General President already....Save the country from the greatest joke known to mankind..... the M14 regime
03 October 2013, 07:14
103
HA and Qaeda are jokes...do the math hippie, does anyone really love any of them?
02 October 2013, 22:36
197
FPM complex of superiority.... the dream of his life even if it meant to spread chaos to lebanon!
02 October 2013, 22:42
187
he is complaining that some are exerting pressures but in the sentence right after he acknowledge that he will also exert pressures if the PM does not take "his ministers" ! LOL
02 October 2013, 23:12
1016
@benzona
come up with a new phrase already. It wasn't funny the first 9 times you used it.
03 October 2013, 00:47
116
Aoun's reason for mentioning $12 billion in expenses for the refugees is because he is anticipating a huge budget deficit of the current M8 one-sided government.
The coalition of terrorists and assassinators (M8) have always blamed Hariri for the $40B in government debt. Roughy speaking, the $40B in debt over 20 years averages to around $2B per year.
The current M8-only government will run up a yearly deficit much larger than $2B, and so Aoun needs to find an excuse to blame this deficit on.
A big draw on the budget is the stolen electricity that is not paid for. At least during the Hariri era, the country was rebuilt from damages of the civil war.
By the way, the $12B is total BS. Even by highest estimates, this does not represent expenses incurred by the government. Aoun is trying to cover up M8 government thievery, and ineptitude.
03 October 2013, 01:54
83
All Aoun's points are valid, even when his ministers control half the government, he is unable to act.
The problem falls on HA, we know it and Aoun knows it. He blames everyone else for his governments inaction but the obvious.
Aoun is indirectly advocating that he, given the chance at the presidency will save Lebanon. In line with his speech he will assign to himself all the powers needed to fix the problem.
Give Aoun the presidency and he will go after HA and disarm them by force. This lunatic is so predictable it's not funny. He has proven time after time, that he is a one man show. He personifies the characteristics of a true dictator, and will burn himself and the country to have his way.
03 October 2013, 02:40
125
how dare u ccriticize the paper yet u return to us like a puppy everyday?
03 October 2013, 05:42
116
I Don't Object to Hizbullah Staying in Syria in Absence of Political Solution ........ Never mind the Government's official stand and the Baabda Declaration. Aoun gave HA the green light and that is that.
He also said he does not accept the president nominating his ministers. WHAT? Since when the constitution stated a quota of Ministers for each Potato head of the Parliament? THey make their rules as they please.
03 October 2013, 08:03
48
peoplepower, eh, msh enno l wad3 hek, the 1.2 million syrian refugges don't exist and are propaganda ya habeel.
03 October 2013, 08:07
17
constantine agreed. Pathetic too. Not a person worth talking to.
faris' response doesn't make sense, as usual. Thx toni.
03 October 2013, 13:21
33
Not one single politician in Lebanon today is working for the Lebanese people. Wake up all of you and stop defending your parties. They are nothing but spineless corrupt agents working for either the US, Russia, Saudi, Syria, Israel, and others to the detriment of YOUR country! The expat community should know better than to fall into the trap of "defending our party" and instead think hard at what it means to be Lebanese.
03 October 2013, 13:45
84
Not really the first time we see this Assad-Khamenei's Gang agent sell the blood of Christians for his fantasies. No wonder Lebanon is fading away in the hands of such ordinary criminals as this Aoun.
03 October 2013, 15:07
01
gabby14 you're the biggest retard ever. In all honesty.
I hope naharnet mods delete/ban your account for such violations too many. You're losing it, get a grip, retard.
03 October 2013, 16:37
71
it is rather that so many truths were posted here that you do not know how to answer... so you resort to the easy M8 trick that all those against FPM are stupid.... same complex of superiority as you beloved "general".....
03 October 2013, 23:59
20
Only an idiot would conclude from my comment that I deny the existence of Syrian refugees. The questions are:
1. Has $12 Billion been spent on these refugees? ($1000 per refugee) Answer is no.
2. Has the Lebanese Government spent even $500M on the refugees? Answer is no. Most money spent on feeding and housing the Syrian refugees comes from foreign donations. Claoun is using the foreign donations as part of the so-called $12B.
3. Claoun's "estimate" of $12B in expenses also includes so-called lost wages for Syrians who take work from Lebanese citizens. Another source of exaggeration to cover for the theft of M8 government.
