Aoun Goes to Syria "with Head Held High"

Source: Al-Manar TV, 01-12-2008
In a few hours, the head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun is set to start a "historic" visit to Damascus, the first of its kind.
The visit, that has already came under fire from the so-called March 14 forces, is intended to open a new page, turn over a painful one in Lebanese history and look to the future.
"I used to oppose Syria. Today, this opposition has come to an end. Becoming friends with Syria is very possible," Aoun said following his parliamentary bloc weekly meeting, a few hours before heading to the Syrian capital. "I am going to Syria with what I represent in Lebanon and to the Syrians. This is a get to know you visit, it is not for discussing issues, this jurisdiction is for the cabinet," Aoun said, adding that he goes to Syria with his head held high.
"They are welcoming me with admiration and respect... I was a rival and the rivalry has ended and I may become a friend," he added. He said he saw no reason not to go to Syria given that Damascus withdrew its troops from its tiny neighbor in 2005 and that diplomatic ties between both countries were officially launched in October. "This is a friendly and introductory visit," he emphasized.
"Those afraid of suffering what they did to me should not, for I am not like them," Aoun said in response to the "organized campaign" which started too early against his Damascus trip. "I ask Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt to let me guard the Damascus gate for a few days after he guarded it for a long time," the General also said. Aoun called on those who attack him because he said that Syria was the cradle of Christianity to read the history of Christianity first.
Turning into the file of missing Lebanese, Aoun noted that the issue was now at the hands of the Lebanese President Michel Sleiman. Aoun, meanwhile, recalled that the issue was mentioned in his understanding with Hezbollah, but held Lebanese officials who ruled the country during the past years responsibility for the detainees file.
Meanwhile, the visit continued to be the main essence of political comments in the few past hours. In this context, Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil said that Aoun would not head for Damascus to draw a scheme to attack Bekfayya (the head of the Phalange party Amin Gemayel's headquarters) or Mearab (Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea's headquarters) or anyone. "Aoun is not set to repeat the mistakes of the others," Minister Bassil explained.
The Lebanese minister pointed out that Aoun was going to Syria to tell the people in general and Christians in particular that they have brothers in Lebanon. "This would give the Lebanese hopes of good relations with Syria," Bassil said, adding that Aoun would be an icon for peace just like he was an icon for Resistance and Liberation.
For his part, Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Chamel Mozaya said that everybody should know that Aoun will enter Syria as a national leader to crown reconciliation between the Lebanese and Syrian people, adding that he will enter Syria to emphasize the maxim: Syria inside Syria and Lebanon inside Lebanon.
In contrast, Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's expected visit to Syria was designed to demonstrate his new political leanings. Zahra added that the issue did not merit concern, claiming that, since Aoun signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Hizbullah he had positioned himself with Syria's allies. Accordingly, Aoun's visit to Syria was expected and unsurprising. "What is surprising is that it has been postponed until now," he said.