LF-FPM Declaration Urges Strong President, Says No to 'Constitution Manipulation, Violence'
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.
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