Aoun Begins Talks with Political Leaders on National Dialogue Call

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday kicked off bilateral meetings with some of Lebanon’s political leaders to explore the possibility of holding a national dialogue conference.

Announcing that Hizbullah would take part in any dialogue meeting, Loyalty to Resistance bloc head MP Mohammed Raad added after meeting Aoun in Baabda that “dialogue is more than a necessity” seeing as “the country is going through hardship and pressures.”

“We call on our partners in the country to show reason and wisdom and give up overbidding and overthinking, because this country is our country and we’re concerned with preserving it instead of taking it into the abyss,” Raad said.

“We the Lebanese citizens are the masters of this country,” he added.

Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan for his part warned that “the problem is big and the current system in Lebanon is no longer productive.”

“Circumstances require dialogue among all parties,” he added, decrying that “what is happening is a crime against the Lebanese.”

“This economic-financial decay and the loss of control over the dollar obligates everyone to shoulder their responsibilities in a more accurate and responsible manner,” Arslan went on to say, saying he “supported President Aoun’s call for taking part in dialogue to fix the issues in a serious manner.”

The President met with Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh later in the day and is scheduled to meet Wednesday with delegations from the Consultative Gathering, the Syrian Social National Party, the Armenian bloc and the Strong Lebanon bloc.