Suleiman, Aoun Rapprochement Reaches Advanced Stage as President Invites MP to Amsheet

President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun have narrowed their differences and would meet at dinner in Amsheet next month during a ceremony sponsored by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, An Nahar daily reported Friday.

FPM sources denied that the rapprochement was mediated by foreign parties, saying “Suleiman made the initiative to restore relations (with Aoun) after he felt a regress in the capabilities of the March 14 forces.”

The sources told An Nahar that Suleiman most probably wanted to meet the request of al-Rahi to consolidate inter-Christian ties and confront the upcoming challenges.

The newspaper said that the efforts to bring Suleiman and Aoun closer “reached an advanced stage” after the president telephoned the FPM chief several days ago to discuss the issue of the Internal Security Forces General-Directorate.

Suleiman invited the lawmaker to his hometown of Amsheet on July 16 to attend the ceremony sponsored by the patriarch and later meet at a dinner banquet.

Suleiman and Aoun would attend a concert at the Jounieh festival on Saturday and another concert in Jbeil later, An Nahar said.

Both officials could also attend a concert in Batroun unlike last year when each went on separate days, the daily added.

Relations between Suleiman and Aoun had reached an all-time low over the interior ministry post. But ties began to improve gradually when both sides agreed on naming Marwan Charbel to the post.