Aoun: Loyalty Leaders are Students in Rices Classroom
Source: nowlebanon.com, 17-06-2006
Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP General Michel Aoun on Tuesday criticized U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for meeting leaders of the so-called "March 14 alliance" like "students gathered in a class room."
Aoun, talking to reporters after a meeting by members of his Change and Reform Bloc (CRB), also said he would ask Speaker Nabih Berri to convene Parliament to ratify the election law adopted during the Doha talks.
CRB members also took note of Rice's call for speeding up the Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms and setting up diplomatic ties with Syria. "It seems that the Americans have at last adopted our viewpoint," a smiling Aoun said.
However, he emphasized that "one issue remains vague, that is the issue of naturalizing Palestinians in Lebanon." "I learned that Patriarch Sfeir had asked President George Bush about this issue and Bush replied that the Palestinians are satisfied (with) Lebanon," Aoun said.
Aoun said he cannot give a "final answer"" as to when would the cabinet be formed, stressing that he wants to facilitate efforts to form it. "We want the best relations with President Suleiman," Aoun added.
Aoun said stated the following:
-Aoun: We began to review [US Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice's statements... We are happy that the US has begun to gain this perspective... particularly regarding relations with Syria. I was wondering how they [the ruling majority] accepted that, but they were sitting there like good students.
-Aoun: It is unfortunate that no one mentioned the issue of Palestinian resettlement... There are many accusing us of using the issue as a scarecrow. We urge all those who have information on the matter to reveal it. What we are doing is raising a warning and taking measures to prevent anything that would harm their right to return, or harm our situation.
-Aoun: The bad news is heavy armament in certain areas, from certain sources, with names and details. It is not our job to reveal... but the army knows where the arms are being distributed. Brigadier General Ashraf Rifi should have the news.
-Aoun: The clashes in Saadnayel and Taalabaya are unfortunate... We know that RPGs are pulled out in broad daylight. Why are they [the weapons] even there?
-Aoun: We will request Speaker Nabih Berri to announce a parliamentary session to pass the electoral divisions as agreed on in Doha. The only clause left, then, would be the government formation. If there is no government, there is no dialogue.
-Aoun: The military intelligence has information of armament in northern Lebanon. Why are there clashes in areas that do not have resistance arms?
-Aoun: We may not have reached the best divisions for elections in Doha, but that does not mean we cannot reach the best electoral law now, including financial monitoring.
-Aoun: Regarding the government... We insist on maintaining cooperation with the president and forming the government as soon as possible. These two points we insist on, no matter what the media says. We are here to help, and not disrupt.
-Aoun: We have to respect the bases of portfolio distribution... The government is an executive authority, but cannot be under the absolute power of the prime minister. There should be monitoring mechanisms as well. These are all reform issues that we must achieve in the new ministerial council.
-Aoun: Rice's visit [to the ruling bloc] was interference in its form. She met with "unofficial" as well as officials.
-Aoun: I am concerned with the distribution of portfolios... I have no veto against anyone.
-Aoun: Tonight we will specify the time, date and place for a wide Christian meeting.
-Aoun: It is in our interests that the government be formed, and we will facilitate the formation... If we object against any name, it does not mean we are vetoing that name. Everyone has their political color, and should take the share of that color, and no one else's color.
-Aoun: I suggested a solution: one Christian and one Muslim minister are the president's share, which leaves one Christian and one Muslim minister for the opposition. Isn't Sleiman a consensus president?
-Aoun: If there is a solution by our exchanging Sunni ministers for Christian ministers with the president, we have no objection.
-Aoun: Do we no longer have the right to talk of administrative reform?
-Aoun: We have not taken an official stance on Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's appointment to form the new government.
Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP General Michel Aoun on Tuesday criticized U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for meeting leaders of the so-called "March 14 alliance" like "students gathered in a class room."
Aoun, talking to reporters after a meeting by members of his Change and Reform Bloc (CRB), also said he would ask Speaker Nabih Berri to convene Parliament to ratify the election law adopted during the Doha talks.
CRB members also took note of Rice's call for speeding up the Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms and setting up diplomatic ties with Syria. "It seems that the Americans have at last adopted our viewpoint," a smiling Aoun said.
However, he emphasized that "one issue remains vague, that is the issue of naturalizing Palestinians in Lebanon." "I learned that Patriarch Sfeir had asked President George Bush about this issue and Bush replied that the Palestinians are satisfied (with) Lebanon," Aoun said.
Aoun said he cannot give a "final answer"" as to when would the cabinet be formed, stressing that he wants to facilitate efforts to form it. "We want the best relations with President Suleiman," Aoun added.
Aoun said stated the following:
-Aoun: We began to review [US Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice's statements... We are happy that the US has begun to gain this perspective... particularly regarding relations with Syria. I was wondering how they [the ruling majority] accepted that, but they were sitting there like good students.
-Aoun: It is unfortunate that no one mentioned the issue of Palestinian resettlement... There are many accusing us of using the issue as a scarecrow. We urge all those who have information on the matter to reveal it. What we are doing is raising a warning and taking measures to prevent anything that would harm their right to return, or harm our situation.
-Aoun: The bad news is heavy armament in certain areas, from certain sources, with names and details. It is not our job to reveal... but the army knows where the arms are being distributed. Brigadier General Ashraf Rifi should have the news.
-Aoun: The clashes in Saadnayel and Taalabaya are unfortunate... We know that RPGs are pulled out in broad daylight. Why are they [the weapons] even there?
-Aoun: We will request Speaker Nabih Berri to announce a parliamentary session to pass the electoral divisions as agreed on in Doha. The only clause left, then, would be the government formation. If there is no government, there is no dialogue.
-Aoun: The military intelligence has information of armament in northern Lebanon. Why are there clashes in areas that do not have resistance arms?
-Aoun: We may not have reached the best divisions for elections in Doha, but that does not mean we cannot reach the best electoral law now, including financial monitoring.
-Aoun: Regarding the government... We insist on maintaining cooperation with the president and forming the government as soon as possible. These two points we insist on, no matter what the media says. We are here to help, and not disrupt.
-Aoun: We have to respect the bases of portfolio distribution... The government is an executive authority, but cannot be under the absolute power of the prime minister. There should be monitoring mechanisms as well. These are all reform issues that we must achieve in the new ministerial council.
-Aoun: Rice's visit [to the ruling bloc] was interference in its form. She met with "unofficial" as well as officials.
-Aoun: I am concerned with the distribution of portfolios... I have no veto against anyone.
-Aoun: Tonight we will specify the time, date and place for a wide Christian meeting.
-Aoun: It is in our interests that the government be formed, and we will facilitate the formation... If we object against any name, it does not mean we are vetoing that name. Everyone has their political color, and should take the share of that color, and no one else's color.
-Aoun: I suggested a solution: one Christian and one Muslim minister are the president's share, which leaves one Christian and one Muslim minister for the opposition. Isn't Sleiman a consensus president?
-Aoun: If there is a solution by our exchanging Sunni ministers for Christian ministers with the president, we have no objection.
-Aoun: Do we no longer have the right to talk of administrative reform?
-Aoun: We have not taken an official stance on Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's appointment to form the new government.
