Geagea Says 'Hand Extended' for 'Honorable' Dialogue with FPM
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday said his party's hand is extended for an “honorable” dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement, as he reminded that he is still a “presidential candidate.”
“We did not fight during the war to surrender during peace times. We are people who fight honorably and engage in dialogue honorably,” said Geagea at a Maarab ceremony for handing membership cards to LF members.
“As much as our hand was strong in pulling the trigger, it is now extended for shaking hands and creating a better tomorrow for the country,” Geagea added.
Before he began his speech, Geagea addressed a "special salutation" to Elie Khoury, the representative of the FPM at the ceremony.
Preparatory meetings are underway between LF and FPM officials to set the stage for dialogue between Geagea and FPM chief MP Michel Aoun.
Several meetings have been held between MP Ibrahim Kanaan of the FPM and the LF's media officer Melhem Riachi. Kanaan has also visited Geagea in Maarab while Riachi has met with Aoun in Rabieh.
In his speech, Geagea did not forget to remind that he is still in the presidential race.
“You belong to an institution whose leader was a president for the republic (Bashir Gemayel) and whose current leader is a presidential candidate,” Geagea said, addressing his party's members.
The country has been without a president since the end of Michel Suleiman's term on May 25, 2014. Electoral competition between Geagea and Aoun and political differences between the March 14 and March 8 camps have prevented the election of a successor.
“We must shun corruption and clientelism for the sake of the people,” added Geagea.
“The LF is not and will never be a traditional party. It is the story of a people's struggle,” he said.
“Our current struggle is aimed at securing the rise of an actual state in Lebanon. This can only be achieved through collecting illegitimate arms in Lebanon as a necessary prelude to returning the military decision to the Lebanese state exclusively,” the LF leader added.
Y.R.
Source: Naharnet
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