Aoun: The Syrian Regime Will Not Fall

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Any official “who chooses to remain silent over the violations” of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, ISF Intelligence Bureau chief Col. Wissam al-Hassan and State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza would be “committing a crime,” Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said Thursday.

“Claims that we have surrendered to Miqati’s wish to keep Rifi, al-Hassan and Mirza in their posts are untrue,” Aoun said in an interview with LBC television.

Asked about Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil’s electricity plan, which was adopted by the government on Wednesday, Aoun said: “When debate ends with unanimity, that means the result belongs to everyone.”

“The only amendment was dividing the funding into four annual installments and everything else stayed the same as initially proposed,” he stressed.

“There had been efforts to fragment the plan and stretch the funding timetable to six years, but the plan remained the same,” Aoun noted.

Criticizing al-Mustaqbal Movement’s stance on the plan, Aoun said “they’re claiming that their wished-for amendments have been adopted, so let them vote in favor of the plan in parliament.”

“The plan will help bring light to Lebanon after 20 years of darkness and the fruitless spending of billions. This is the benefit that is motivating us and, according to a poll by Information International, 67% of the Lebanese support the plan, which means there is unanimity because the remaining 33% are stealing power from the grid and not paying their bills,” the FPM leader added.

He warned that there will be no “independence, resistance or a country if we let corruption aggravate.”

“The finance minister (Mohammed Safadi) was allocated a hefty amount of money without any portioning or supervision. Since 1995, there has been no financial supervision over the Council for Development and Reconstruction. Where is the financial supervision over the Central Fund for the Displaced and the Council for South Lebanon.”

He stressed that the FPM is the only party in the government that has been “abiding by the financial laws,” noting that his political movement will soon suggest “the abolition of funds and the creation of a planning ministry.”

Aoun went on to say that former premier Saad Hariri’s “idleness in the face of problems was the reason behind his ouster, while we are tackling them day after day.”

Lauding Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s latest stance on Syria, Aoun described the patriarch’s position as “new, politically reasonable and falls under a certain strategic perspective concerning the Middle East.”

On Wednesday al-Rahi said “Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be given a chance because he is implementing reforms in Syria.”

“I reassure that the Syrian regime will not fall and will carry on with the reforms,” Aoun said.

“I am with human rights, but would an alternative regime support human rights? When some say they are against pluralistic rule, would they be respecting human rights? There are no demonstrations at the moment, but rather gunmen and security incidents only. When some try to topple the regime through riots, the regime will defend itself and that is its right,” he explained.

Recalling the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Aoun said: “After the U.S. army came to Iraq and Saddam Hussein was executed, what happened to the post-dictatorship Iraq? Did it transit into democracy?”

“We are not calling for a dictatorial regime but rather for a democratic one” in Syria, Aoun noted, but added that the West and some Arab countries “do not want Syria to respect human rights but rather to sever ties with Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran, even if the

“Let those who are attacking the Syrian regime over human rights throw their support behind the Palestinian people instead,” the FPM leader suggested.

“President Assad told me he will endorse political freedoms,” Aoun revealed, stressing that “there can be no reform without security in Syria and the regime won’t surrender in the face of the attempts to destabilize it, no matter the pressures.”

Timeline
  • 08 September 2011, 22:57

    Aoun: I definitely trust General Qahwaji and he has outperformed others.

  • 08 September 2011, 22:18

    Aoun: President Assad told me he will endorse political freedoms. There can be no reform without security in Syria and the regime won’t surrender in the face of the attempts to destabilize it, no matter the pressures.

  • 08 September 2011, 22:12

    Aoun: Let those who are attacking the Syrian regime over human rights throw their support behind the Palestinian people.

  • 08 September 2011, 22:10

    Aoun: After the U.S. army came to Iraq and Saddam Hussein was executed, what happened to the post-dictatorship Iraq? Did it transit into democracy? We are not calling for a dictatorial regime but rather for a democratic one. We are combating “creative chaos” and they don’t want Syria to respect human rights but rather to sever ties with Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran, even if the price was the death of five million people. Sheikh Saad is awaiting the fall of the regime in Damascus in order to return to Lebanon via the Syrian capital.

  • 08 September 2011, 22:09

    Aoun: Patriarch al-Rahi’s stance on Syria is new, politically reasonable and falls under a certain strategic perspective concerning the Middle East. I reassure that the Syrian regime will not fall and will carry on with the reforms. The organized, Western-backed segment of the Syrian opposition is the Muslim Brotherhood, who believe that democracy is against Islamic sharia (law).

  • 08 September 2011, 22:06

    Aoun: I am with human rights, but would an alternative regime support human rights? When some say they are against pluralistic rule, would they be respecting human rights? There are no demonstrations at the moment, but rather gunmen and security incidents only. When some try to topple the regime through riots, the regime will defend itself and that is its right.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:52

    Aoun: Any official who chooses to remain silent over the violations of Rifi, al-Hassan, Mirza and others would be committing a crime.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:42

    Aoun: Claims that we have surrendered to Miqati’s wish to keep Rifi, al-Hassan and Mirza in their posts are untrue.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:37

    Aoun: Hariri’s idleness in the face of problems was the reason behind his ouster, while we are tackling them day after day. The issue of false witnesses is still on the table and no issue will be shelved.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:23

    Aoun: We are the only party in the government that has been abiding by the financial laws. We will suggest the abolition of funds and the creation of a planning ministry.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:17

    Aoun: The premier became the ultimate ruler after the Taef Accord. We must return to law and constitution, is the premier practicing his powers according to the Taef Accord or acting as a dictator? The finance minister was allocated a hefty amount of money without any portioning or supervision. Since 1995, there has been no financial supervision over the Council for Development and Reconstruction. Where is the financial supervision over the Central Fund for the Displaced and the Council for South Lebanon.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:17

    Aoun: I don’t feel besieged by my allies. There will be no independence, resistance or a country if we let corruption aggravate.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:09

    Aoun: My political weight is not trivial: 10 ministers from one bloc. I’m an essential partner in the decisions and the plan will help bring light to Lebanon after 20 years of darkness and the fruitless spending of billions. This is the benefit that is motivating us and, according to a poll by Information International, 67% of the Lebanese support the plan, which means there is unanimity because the remaining 33% are stealing power from the grid and not paying their bills.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:06

    Aoun: There had been efforts to fragment the plan and stretch the funding timetable to six years, but the plan remained the same. The problem with the al-Mustaqbal Movement is that they’re saying their wished-for amendments have been adopted, so let them vote in favor of the plan in parliament.

  • 08 September 2011, 21:03

    FPM leader MP Michel Aoun to LBC on electricity plan: When debate ends with unanimity, that means the result belongs to everyone. The only amendment was dividing the funding into four annual installments and everything else stayed the same as initially proposed.

Comments 21
Default-user-icon marie (Guest) 09 September 2011, 00:34

Wether Aoun likes it or not, Bashar and his butchers and thieves will fall, sooner than later! The Syrian people will rise and be free. We only hope taht we will be free one day from the Likes of Aoun and the rest of our crooked leaders. I say send him to his friends in damascus and see how long he stays. I bet he will be on the run in his pyjamas...what a crook he is

Thumb Marc 09 September 2011, 00:54

If I were him, I would stay neutral on this issue . . . . . You never know, there may be another regime in the making in Syria........ Then again, I am glad I am not him... Yikes

Missing youssefhaddad 09 September 2011, 01:19

well go pray in Bkerke for the Syrian regime's survival.

Default-user-icon Le PheneChien (Guest) 09 September 2011, 02:01

ANY and I repeat ANY regime would be better than the one who massacred the Leb Army Maghaweer in Baabda without a fight when you told them to surrender. So rouh kol hawa w skot baka 3eib 3ala hal kabra.

Default-user-icon Eli in Aus (Guest) 09 September 2011, 02:02

I have watched lots of Aoun's interviews on Youtube and read lots of stories about him. He comes across as very illogical and non sensical person. Somehow, his personality reminds me of that of Muammar Kaddafi. Long live peaceful, and prosperous Lebanon

Thumb joesikemrex 09 September 2011, 02:19

You say something, but your actions are different. You only see what suits your agenda and that of your allies. You are the Christian weakness, the mess we are in is partly your fault and Hariri. Where are you taking us? Just because your heading to hell, just don't drag us with you. Your policies change often in opposing directions....

Thumb ithinkthere14iam 09 September 2011, 04:41

Lies on lies on lies. So clearly Syrian puppet, shut up already

Default-user-icon Arz10452 (Guest) 09 September 2011, 05:10

A chameleon like Jumblatt, but not as smart.

Default-user-icon Voyager (Guest) 09 September 2011, 07:23

You and our Batrak support the Syrian regime and not the brave Syrian people. Do you honestly believe that Assad is capable of reforms? He has been in power forever and has not carried out any reforms, so why now? Did you see the live executions of people on the streets? Do u believe a regime capable of carrying out such barbaric acts is intent on reform? The Batrak is also concerned the Sunnis in Syria will support the Sunnis in Lebanon, and for this reason he is against change in Syria. Kinda disappointing to hear that from him.....

Default-user-icon Gabby (Guest) 09 September 2011, 07:36

Look into my eyes. I know Assad will fall. I bet on the wrong horse again. I will never be president. Where are my pajamas?

Default-user-icon Muhamad (Guest) 09 September 2011, 08:32

I guess Aoun have tried before and failed, we will see this time who is right.
It was from your mouth Justice is slow but it will win. The Lebanese people asking for justice against the war crimes and your are a suspect.

Missing small.axe 09 September 2011, 08:33

This claoun has now lost his last ounce of dignity

Thumb Nade 09 September 2011, 15:09

this guy is going crazy more and more daily.. It's like he has any power to hold or stop the overthrow of Bashar the Jazzer.
Anyway, Aoun and his hozabatsan time is very short.

Default-user-icon Dov Levy (Guest) 09 September 2011, 15:20

Our friend, Dr. Geagea, predicted that the fall of the regime is a matter of days. We all know how many times our friend had his predictions right: as many times as Mr. Aoun had his predictions wrong. That is NEVER!!! But then who's counting?

Thumb bashir 09 September 2011, 15:20

If I were the Syrian regime Aoun's confidence would tell me the end is near...

Thumb bashir 09 September 2011, 15:21

the remaining 33% are stealing power from the grid and not paying their bills,” the FPM leader added.

WOW. The turbanned rat is sure to give him a smack down for speaking about Hezbollah's sheep like that.

Thumb erasmus16@gmail.com 09 September 2011, 17:04

It's just sad that so many Lebanese still follow this mad man and refuse to see the truth. He belongs back in Deir el Saleeb (phychiatric hospital where Aoun spent a significant amount of time) from where he should have never been released.

Default-user-icon jabal amel (Guest) 09 September 2011, 18:37

he is mad, but at least he is not traitor nor he belongs to mossad, like most authors here on naharnet.

Default-user-icon will (Guest) 09 September 2011, 21:56

The only way he will not fall is if he kills half the Syrian population...have you been watching the news Aoun?...Saddam....Mubarak....Ghaddfi.....next is Assad moron. You think the Syrians will say "Oh well at least we tried" and go home? no sir

Default-user-icon fady bsaibes (Guest) 10 September 2011, 07:37

I think we can judge a politician by results he/she is able to achieve. M. Aoun may have lost a battle against US and Syria in 1990, but history and events have showed us that he is winning the war. He is getting all what he wants by different maneuvers but he is getting them alright. last achievement is the Electricity decree that he fairly won.

Thumb orangeeagle 10 September 2011, 09:05

If you don't like GMA, well don't marry him. I challenge everyone of you: Where did Aoun go wrong? Isn't what he claimed from 1988 true? why are you afraid to admit that his vision and beliefs about Lebanon and Syria and most if not all things proved him right? some say mad, some say Hizbollah's puppet. Come on guys, prove it by facts... not by empty worthless personality attacks. I'd rather have a correct and honest "mad" politician as a leader, rather than "sane" thief who has robbed me out of my living and my belongings for the last 18 years. Zero plans for electricity, zero plans for debt removal, zero plans for any economic and social reform. When Aoun's block start their plan for reform, all hell broke loose. why? because of commissions, and shares. sahtein...