Aoun: Tehran visit was designed to consolidate friendship with Iranian leadership

Source: Al-Manar TV, 25-10-2008
The head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun assured his supporters on Saturday that they will emerge victorious from the 2009 parliamentary elections "irrespective of what they do," noting that the forthcoming elections would mark a turning point in the country after eighteen years of failure and weakness.
Speaking ahead of a delegation of USJ students who visited him in Rabiyeh, Aoun said that the record to the Lebanese judiciary was "stained, if not black," and questioned the rationale behind economic policies that had led to the accumulation of a $40 billion national debt.
Aoun also tackled his historic visit to Iran, noting that among all criticism he received over it, he didn't find anyone that deserves a response. "Iran, to us, is a very important regional power. It has empowered us and participated in rebuilding Lebanon," Aoun said, adding that his visit to Iran was designed to "consolidate our friendship with its leadership, as Iran is a regional power."
He asked all who are seeking to portray the Islamic Republic as an enemy to come with only one proof that Iran did once something against Lebanon. "Some of them condemned the visit and claimed that Iran was not an Arab state," Aoun noted, wondering at the same time whether France or the United States were Arab.
The General pointed out that the victory in the July war proved the solidity and the relevance of the understanding with Hizbullah. Aoun also said that "we are living in a period where lies, false analysis of events and bribes prevail."
"When we believe in a certain cause, we should gather as much support to it as we can," Aoun emphasized.