Mashnouq Statement from Rabieh Draws Ire of March 14 Allies
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq's remarks from Rabieh caused a stir among the March 14 allies over the rapprochement between the al-Mustaqbal movement and the Free Patriotic Movement, local newspapers reported on Friday.
According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and leaders affiliated in the March 14 coalition expressed ire over Mashnouq's statement, prompting al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri to contact Geagea to explain the matter.
Aoun recently confirmed that he has recently met with former premier and head of al-Mustaqbal movement Saad Hariri ahead of the formation of Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet in February.
According to unconfirmed reports, ex-PM Hariri and Bassil had also held a meeting in Dubai.
Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc Fouad Saniora also contacted Geagea to stress that Mashnouq only discussed with FPM leader MP Michel Aoun the cabinet's ministerial policy statement.
Later, Mashnouq contacted Geagea to brief him on his latest consultations with Speaker Nabih Berri, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, Aoun and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat concerning the policy statement.
“It's in our best interest to grant the government confidence to allow it to focus on the national, economic and social priorities and carry out the presidential elections,” Mashnouq said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
The Interior Minister refused on Thursday to disclose to reporters at Rabieh the context of his 45-minute talks with Aoun.
Mashnouq only said that he cannot make any statement in the presence of Aoun.
“My meetings with Aoun and Gemayel are to follow up my protocol meetings with Berri, Geagea and Jumblat,” the minister told An Nahar newspaper.
He noted that discussions focused on the cabinet's policy statement.
“My meeting with Aoun tackled the dispute over the resistance article in the ministerial statement,” Mashnouq added.
An Nahar newspaper reported that Aoun expressed optimistic and openness regarding the matter.
The committee tasked with drafting the policy statement will hold its ninth meeting on Friday but it has so far failed to narrow differences on the resistance clause after the March 14 alliance stressed that the resistance should be placed under the authority of the Lebanese state.
The Hizbullah-led March 8 camp, on the other hand, rejected this demand, wanting to legitimize the party's armed resistance against Israel.
07 March 2014, 14:48
33
fortunately, you are not in a position to determine the truth. You have sub zero credibility!
07 March 2014, 11:27
64
as a FM supporter, I say it clear and loud: " Although highly improbable, yet just in case FM jeopardizes its relationship with LF for any reason, I will abandon FM and become solely devoted to the LF"
07 March 2014, 12:01
36
The FPM is not a problem. Their unconditional support of Hezbollah and Bashar el Assad is !
07 March 2014, 12:45
21
dont worry, its not unconditional, only unconditional thing with fpm is Aoun for president and so other post for Bassel. Bass.
07 March 2014, 12:24
34
I need not be apologetic to anyone here, but the brutal frankness remains as it should, that Geagea has once again been betrayed by his coalition friends. Even though I stand first in line with national rapprochement, still, I advise that it not be done at any cost in the name of submission. I am with him on this latest of positions, it is as correct as should be, but he also has himself to blame. The problem with Geagea is that he tends to commit the very same mistakes. In those dark days when he deafened us with his "Al General bi moun" he was advised NOT to trust the "chameleonic" general, that he will one day soonn turns the guns we gave him against us. Did Geagea listen? Now about being too close to Mustaqbal, he was also warned, not to get too close, did he listen?
07 March 2014, 12:30
26
I also know one thing, if Bachir was around, someone like Aoun would never exist. Mustaqbal was literally kissing the feet of the LF some years back, because the LF is literally the only side that has guts to stand in the face of adversity. Now that Mustaqbal feels a little more confident, it is now beginning to show its true colors. There should come a time when Geagea should hand over the reins of the LF to a newer leadership, this business of "Bi moun" does not work, "ma fi 7adan bi moun, illal 7a2". Wake up ya Geagea.
07 March 2014, 12:57
22
@peacelover, sure bro, I cannot dispute your reasoning, and this is why I keep saying that Geagea needs to have more vision, he should look forward more than within. If I was him, I would simply break off with any alliance, leave the LF unattached, therefore we will have a lot more freedom to act as we should. Also, the Kataeb under the leadership of Amin Gemayel is not the real Kataeb we expect, this old man should go home and stay there. Amin should hand over to Sami, who has a lot more potential than the old man, the old man now truly belongs to the Dinosaurs of yesteryears like the other chameleons Aoun, Jumblatt, Berri and all that trash of our darkest history. Geagea too should be relegated, for all I know, he is not the best man now to lead the LF.
07 March 2014, 12:46
33
Very true ya FT, because someone like Geagea exist, someone like Aoun exists. The logic is so so so simple, "tanjra lay2et ghateha". Or better explained as "Tizeyn bi fardel lbeiss". Wou mella shinten, ya wayleh, ya wayleh.
07 March 2014, 13:58
52
.. Who is geagea ? Who are the kataeb ? They can barely win electoral seats. We call that Bad business and Bad investment. Recognize Aoun's true size and he will be future movements closes ally, don't forget he engineered 1559!
07 March 2014, 17:29
04
FT, please, do come to accept that Geagea is not alone in this, Aoun too is as deep in it as Geagea is. Both of them fought each other to the death of thousands of us, both of them have weakened us and both of them keep dividing us right to this day. Do you remember ya FT, before Hakim came out of jail and before Aoun returned from exile? weren't we all bridging our divides? weren't we all demonstrating together? How many times did we Christians get beaten by the same sticks and together so? Wasn't Samy Gemayel with us during those days? We were Christians and were beginning to speak in one voice, until these two vampires came back to the scene. I told you, if Bachir lived, none of them would be around. Please everyone, can't you see what these two killers are doing, Geagea and Aoun. Give them to me and let me hang them both, to give peace back a chance!!!
07 March 2014, 19:03
00
phoneix1, what you wrote in the previous 2 posts are un-expected from you. In one paragraph you are blaming Geagea for his "bymoun el general" in the first round and yet in another one you are labelling him as a killer because he resisted Aoun in the second round... make up your mind.
Last comment; Do not paint Aoun and Geagea with the same brush. Sure he made mistakes, but everyone does including Bachir Gemayel (RIP). When he does mistakes for the wrong reasons then you can blame him.
