Harb: Hizbullah and Aoun are Doing Each Other a Favor

Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb stated on Wednesday that Hizbullah and its ally the Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun are doing each other mutual favors with regard to the presidency and the party's weapons.

“Lebanon is in a stage of paying bills between Aoun and Hizbullah. The first insists to cover the illegal weapons of Hizbullah in return for the latter's continued backing for Aoun to help him make it to the presidential post,” said Harb via Twitter.

Aoun had hinted recently that Hizbullah's weapons are indispensable and that they cannot be restricted to the Lebanese authorities taking into consideration the Israeli incursions on Lebanese territory.

Hizbullah has reiterated more than once that it continues to support its March 8 ally Aoun for the top state post which has been vacant for over 20 months today.

Marada movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, of March 8, has also been nominated recently by al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri.

On the Maarab rapprochement that saw the nomination of Aoun by his long-time rival Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geaega, Harb asked: “What has been left of the memorandum of principles between the FPM and the LF after Aoun's pledge to keep Hizbullah's weapons for life?”

Geagea's nomination of Aoun was not applauded by March 14, as observers saw the step as a reaction to Hariri's nomination of Franjieh.

D.A.

G.K.