Aoun: The four-party meeting is not yet final

MP Michel Aoun said that the four-party meeting to join Lebanese leaders with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa is not yet final. "PM Fouad Siniora and Saad Hariri's statements reflect a drawback over pre-agreements."
He also said that the opposition will not accept being deprived of an influential role in the government.
"In democracies all over the world, when there is a need for an agreement between the opposition and the majority, the ruling forces take the initiative, not the opposition," Aoun told the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.
He also said that it is not useful to set dates for meetings if the majority is not ready to participate. "If they are coming to the meeting to reject settlements and participation, I advise them to stay home," he added.
Commenting on the divergence of points of view within the opposition over participation, the 10-10-10 power-sharing formula and the guaranteeing one-third vote, Aoun said he is committed to ensuring the opposition's political representation.
"Government shares are a way to reflect this participation. If the 10-10-10 formula along with some guarantees ensures this participation, then I support it," he said.
"Divergence in points of view within the opposition is legitimate. However, the opposition will reach an agreement over its demands."
Aoun said that the guarantees he is calling for include the issues of the president's commitment to consensus policies, the two-thirds majority, the balance in power sharing, principle ministries in the national-unity government, the adoption of the 1960 casa-based electoral law, and some clauses of the government's plan of action.
Commenting on Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's statements following the assassination of Imad Mognieh, Aoun said that self-defense is a legitimate right.
"Nasrallah has the right to defend himself, especially since "Israeli" leaders have repeatedly declared their intention to liquidate him and other Hizbullah officials," Aoun said.
When asked if Nasrallah's declaration of an open war against "Israel" would influence the Memorandum of Understanding between the FPM and Hizbullah, Aoun said that there is a distinction to be noted in the memorandum's clauses.
"The nine clauses of the understanding are related to internal Lebanese matters, while the tenth one deals with "Israel". The nine clauses were reconfirmed after the Mar Mikhael incidents and the assassination of Imad Mognieh," he said.
"The tenth clause acknowledges the existence of the resistance's weapons to defend Lebanon against dangers and until all Lebanese soil is liberated, irrespective of what might happen until then," Aoun added.