Salim Aoun: The supporters of the majority did not lose, there is a political project that lost

Source: nowlebanon.com, 09-06-2008

MP Salim Aoun of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc commented on the current situation in Lebanon in an interview with Al-Manar Television. Aoun said, "The pro-government party wants to bring down the Syrian regime and is expecting a strike against Iran."

He added, "We have the ability to identify the interest of Lebanon. When our political course prevailed, we did not deal with them [the majority] according to a winner/looser relation. The supporters of the majority did not lose, but there is a political project that lost."

He continued, "We had fears about the implementation of the Taif Accord because of the lack of capacities to set right things under the presence of the Syrians in Lebanon. But now, we are dominating on the ground and have no fears about the implementation of the Doha Agreement.

Aoun also added, "They [the majority] thought that MP Aoun would reject the Doha Agreement. But once General Aoun agreed on the agreement and signed it, they also signed on the agreement and can no longer revoke it. This is proof that their supporters were not content with this agreement, and this was evident because of the reservations of some of the factions within their ranks. There is information suggesting that the US demanded the majority to obstruct the agreement."

"The US president asked the Maronite Patriarch during their meeting whether General Aoun was a devoted believer. The Patriarch was shocked when Bush told him that Palestinians are living with the Lebanese without problems."

He added, "They [the majority] have tried to establish militias and security agencies within the agencies of the state, such as the ISF Intelligence Department. The head of the Future Movement has said more than once "we are ready for war if they want it."

Aoun concluded, "The majority would have eroded the Doha Agreement if was capable of doing so. But I am confident that they cannot."