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Aoun: I Defended Syria after 'They' Used to Accuse it Every Time an Explosion Occurred in Lebanon

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun blamed PM-designate Saad Hariri's allies for hindering government formation and said he found himself obliged to defend Syria after the majority March 14 forces would accuse Damascus every time an explosion took place in Lebanon.
"Obstruction does not come from Hariri, but from those around him, because his bloc comprises people of different orientations and tendencies," Aoun said in an interview with Syrian Satellite TV.

"We have reached an understanding on various issues, most importantly that talks should not end with no agreement," he said in reference to ongoing negotiations with Hariri on a Cabinet lineup.

Aoun said he felt that Hariri has a desire to overcome difficulties facing government formation.

"From here I say that we will form a government even if we were somewhat late," he announced.

Aoun denied that the Cabinet knot was the reappointment of his son-in-law Jebran Bassil as telecoms minister, saying the problem was "much bigger than that."

Cabinet crisis, according to the former army commander, is related to fear from the reformist and transformative policy of the Free Patriotic Movement "that could nail down as many people who oppose it."

Aoun described as "good" the Doha Accord that ended an 18-month long political crisis in Lebanon.

He accused, however, pro-government team of "choosing what suits them best from this agreement."

Aoun defended the Memorandum of Understanding he had signed with Hizbullah, pointing that there is no mention of a defense strategy but that the strategy has "imposed itself."

He also "blessed" Druze leader Walid Jumblat for the strong ties he has re-established with Hizbullah "and we hope it will carry on."

While Aoun expressed satisfaction with the political security situation in the country, he considered himself to be the number one on the list of assassination.

On the International Tribunal issue, Aoun said he believed it was "politicized" at the beginning, "but we hope to see judicial and not political actions in the second phase."

"All the facts so far have denied accusations made against Syria; and there doesn't seem to be an indictment against Syria through what was published until now."

"We had gone through an extremely difficult stage following the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. Each time a person is killed they would accuse Syria," Aoun said in reference to the March 14 coalition.

"We were forced to stand up in the face of this continuous political accusation and that had cost us some political price," he added.

Aoun said he found himself obliged to "defend Syria after they used to accuse it every time an explosion took place in Lebanon."

Beirut, 20 Oct 09, 08:23


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