LF-FPM Declaration Urges Strong President, Says No to 'Constitution Manipulation, Violence'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement signed a landmark declaration of intent on Tuesday, in a move aimed at ending around 30 years of rivalry between the two Christian parties.
The stipulations of the document were announced after a meeting in Rabiyeh between LF chief Samir Geagea and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun.
The two parties call for “the election of a strong president who is embraced by his (Christian) community and capable of reassuring the other components of the country,” says the declaration, which was recited by MP Ibrahim Kanaan of the FPM and LF media officer Melhem Riachi.
Kanaan and Riachi had held a series of meetings in recent months to prepare for the joint declaration.
“The two parties agree to strengthen state institutions and resort to the law to resolve any sudden dispute. They agree not to resort to arms or violence and to support the army because it is the institution that can preserve sovereignty and national security,” the declaration of intent says.
The two parties stressed “commitment to the approach of dialogue” and underlined “their faith in Lebanon, the coexistence formula and the Constitution.”
“They agree to endorse the principles of sovereignty in tackling the regional issues,” the declaration reads.
The LF and the FPM emphasized their commitment to “the Document of National Accord that was endorsed in (the Saudi city of) Taef,” calling for “avoiding anything that would manipulate the stipulations of the Constitution.”
Aoun had recently blamed the political crisis in the country on “the limitation of the presidential powers” after the Taef Accord and “the lack of participation by all the Lebanese factions” in the country's political life.
He called for choosing one of four solutions to end the presidential vacuum: a two-phased election of the president by the people, a popular referendum that is binding for parliament, a parliamentary vote for the “two most representative Maronites”, or holding parliamentary polls based on a new and balanced electoral law before organizing the presidential vote.
In the declaration of intent announced on Tuesday, the two parties called for an electoral law that respects equal power-sharing between Muslims and Christians and “restores balance” in state institutions
They also stressed the importance of “the implementation of administrative decentralization.”
“We underscore commitment to the founding principles of the Lebanese entity and we will exert joint efforts to approve the laws on the property ownership of foreigners and renaturalization” of Lebanese emigrants, the LF and the FPM say in the document.
On the financial level, the two parties called for “abiding by the stipulations of the general audit law that governs state budgets.”
Turning to foreign policy, the LF and the FPM stressed the need to “endorse an independent foreign policy while building honest ties with all countries.”
“Israel is an enemy and we reject naturalization (of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon) and call for a two-state solution” to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the declaration of intent says.
As for the Syrian crisis and its impact on Lebanon, the two parties said they will not allow “the creation of a buffer zone in Lebanon or the use of the Lebanese border for the smuggling of militants.”
“We call for finding a solution to the Syrian refugee crisis, which is a time bomb at all levels and we call for securing their return to safe areas in Syria,” they added.
“We respect all the resolutions of international legitimacy and abide by the charters of the U.N. and the Arab League,” the declaration of intent reads.
Speaking to reporters in Rabiyeh, Geagea wished the meeting with Aoun “had taken place 30 years ago.”
“I'm here for an essential reason: the coming together of two political forces that have positive influence on Lebanon's affairs,” he said.
“Our meeting today is the beginning of dialogue, because the previous months witnessed preparations that paved the ground for this meeting,” added Geagea.
“We are seeking a way to reach a better place and this needs the efforts of all forces,” he said.
For his part, Aoun said his meeting with Geagea was “positive,” describing it as a “gift for the Christians who are worried over the situation in Lebanon.”
Y.R.
02 June 2015, 23:17
115
This agreement means nothing until Aoun stops supporting Hezbollah. His support for them contradicts everything in this agreement. For example, they will respect the UN and Arab League when we know Hezbollah will ignore it and Aoun will do nothing thus he does not respect the UN
02 June 2015, 23:39
117
They should quit wasting time, a president needs to be elected. Non of the two will be elected president and I think one of them has accepted that fact. The other one is a fool deluding himself into thinking he will be elected president. The fool is the same one who's deluding himself into thinking he has hair on top, the other one knows he's bald and has accepted that fact.
03 June 2015, 02:51
05
This is a good move. I think we are seeing the elements of how the West will deal with the Diaish phenomenon. It will be a policy of amplification and containment. The US will strengthen the perimeters around the Diaish territory, to contain it and then let it wither.
The containment countries will be Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Shia Iraq, Kurdistan, Turkey and a rump area of Syria in the Latakia Mountains north of Lebanon, south of Turkey.
03 June 2015, 02:54
05
The US is making a major investment in Jordan and Lebanon with new embassy compounds, pumped up aid and military assistance to both. This reconciliation of Aoun and Geagea is part of this overall strategy to reinforce Lebanese state institutions such as the Army and it may even lead to the election of a president.
With Diaish now having as one of its goals to overthrow the Royal Family in KSA, Iran and Saudi Arabia have a common foe in Diaish and need a common solution that is being worked with the US.
03 June 2015, 02:56
23
Sulimani of the IRG was in Latakia this week, recruiting Alawites and training them for the mission of receiving the strategic retreat of the Assad Regime from Damascus to the Latakia region. Syria no longer has the strategy of holding the whole state, only the western parts along the Lebanese border to Homs and north to Hatay in Turkey. The rest will await a later solution.
03 June 2015, 10:01
24
Unfortunately this agreement will not cure the mental illness of the Caporal.
03 June 2015, 12:07
11
Nazl, I was about to say the same, for someone who carries such an acronym, Blabla has been quite talkative today. However is someone we know, just a change of acronyms, that's all.
03 June 2015, 12:11
01
Good news couldn't come any better than this meeting between Geagea and Aoun, in other words, between the two main Christian political blocks. Their joint declaration is very good, it definitely incepts a good beginning and hopefully on the ground an end to decades of animosity and acrimony. This decades old contention between FPM and LF has caused profound pains, rifts and suspicions not only between them, but also between the Christians of Lebanon. It also rendered us prey to the worst political interpretations by those who wish us harm. Today, if God willing both leaders show courage like never before, Lebanon will indeed get its strong president and power sharing between the Lebanese will bring us closer to real statehood, something that has been put in abeyance for decades.
03 June 2015, 12:18
01
If the Christians of Lebanon unite, all the Lebanese will unite. If Lebanon unites, who can defy us? We are still a potent nation, with very resourceful and hard working people. Let the Lebanese presidency be re-given its powers hitherto Taef, let this nation start moving ahead. It was said years ago, by the ruler of a certain federal state, that for as long as the Sleeping Giant (Lebanon) is not awaken from his slumber, so would the development of his country and the region continue, but if the Giant wakes up, it will retake its Lion's share fair and square. I am one who takes this rare opportunity to congratulate both Samir Geagea and Michel Aoun, and of course all those people who worked tirelessly to make this great day a reality. The time is now to make of this momentum an opportunity to move Lebanon ahead, and into the right direction. Mabrook.
03 June 2015, 16:44
01
Bigjohn, well this is what you think but alas for you this is by far a different reality on the ground. The fact that today Lebanon is breathing a huge sigh of relief after the joint FPM/LF declaration is proof enough that this "secondary role" as you wish to portray it is Primary just as it was and shall remain. Now the other Christian parties are expected to follow in the FPM/LF path as this will go further to solidify the reconciliation, all the while hoping that Syria will not meddle as it used to in the hope of dividing us again.
