Bassil Rejects Foreign Intervention in Presidential Stalemate, Considers LF Positivity 'Useless'
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil ruled out any foreign interference in the presidential elections amid the regional developments, stressing that Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea's agreement to run in presidential race that includes him and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun isn't enough to resolve the country's lingering crisis.
“We don't need foreign agreements to elect a president. We are seeking to elect a president according to local balances,” Bassil said in an interview with the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Tuesday.
“Only the Lebanese system gives priority to any issue and no one else. For the first time we have a chance not to have anyone interfering in our affairs.”
Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended over differences among the parliamentary blocs on a compromise head of state.
Bassil, who is affiliated to the Free Patriotic Movement that is allied with the March 8 coalition, expressed belief that foreign countries have no “will or intention” to impose anything on Lebanon amid this stage.
Asked if the the FPM rejects any foreign intervention after several countries refused Aoun's candidacy, Bassil denied that the party “carried out any contacts with outside countries regarding the presidential elections.”
“We have limits to any offered foreign aid because we want to maintain our independence and self-respect.”
Saudi Arabia has reportedly rejected the nomination of Aoun for the presidency, fearing his “hidden intentions.”
Commenting on Geagea's stance regarding Aoun's proposal to head to the parliament and elect a president in a race that only includes both of them, Bassil considered the stance as “positive but not enough” to end the presidential deadlock.
“He (Geagea) would still have to convince his allies to agree on the proposal,” the FM said.
He stressed that his party “isn't preventing anyone from running in the presidential elections.”
Bassil added that the Christian representation of March 14 leader and Kataeb party chief Amin Gemayel comes in the “third and fourth rank but not the second.”
Gemayel had continuously expressed willingness to run in the elections instead of Geagea as the majority of the March 8 camp's lawmakers have boycotted the presidential elections sessions, which has been seen as a sign of their rejection to Geagea's candidacy.
Bassil told al-Hayat newspaper that the FPM encourages any dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement.
“Whatever this dialogue produces will be better than the rift... It could have fruitful results that would be used in preserving the country's interests and ease the presidential crisis.”
However, he pointed out that the dialogue between the FPM and al-Mustaqbal became “useless.”
On accusations that the Change and Reform ministers are obstructing the work of Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet, the FPM official denied the reports, saying: “the state can cope with the vacuum (at the Baabda Palace) which indicates that the system is fragile.”
The cabinet assumes the executive tasks of the president as stated by the constitution until a new head of state is elected.
Bassil expressed fear that “Lebanon could pay the price of the conflict between the Sunnis and Shiites and could also seek solutions.”
“Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon could agree regardless of the regional conflicts and the Christians could play a positive role.”
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