Samir Geagea
On December 5, the Lebanese National News Agency carried a statement delivered by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea following talks with UN secretary general’s personal representative, Geir Pederson.
In a dialogue with the reporters, Geagea said that the negotiations over the presidential dossier has regrettably moved to Iran, adding that what we are witnessing today is a Christian front for an Islamic Republic, which should be transformed into a committee for Christian-Islamic dialogue.
Q: Does this mean that the problem is not in Syria?
A: As you know, the Syrians are the problem and the solution at once. The Syrian brothers create the problem and then ask for a price to solve it. Then someone comes to hinder the solution, and they ask for another price to solve it again. The presidential election was supposed to be a domestic-local issue, but it has been circulated to the whole world.
Q: Is Deputy Michel Aoun raising Christian demands?
A: We all have Christian demands, but in my opinion, the most important Christian demand today is the election of a president. Many of the other demands [raised by Aoun] are right, but they won’t be solved by hindering the elections. What we should now focus on is filling the presidential vacuum.
Q: Isn’t it strange that the presidential dossier which concerns the Christians specifically is far from them? Why doesn’t Deputy Saad Hariri discuss the presidential issue with General Aoun knowing that he is discussing this issue with Speaker Berri and not the general?
A: There is a concern that Aoun might be sort of a front, and thus they are discussing the issue with the main party. Speaker Berri represents Amal and Hezbollah, and if he was negotiating on his behalf only, the presidential crisis would have been solved long time ago.
Q: You are saying that the problem is with Hezbollah? What are their demands?
A: Regrettably, the issue is very “big.” Instead of heading for Lebanese presidential elections, these elections need to rotate around the entire world to consider the regional and international balance of powers.
Q: Who is responsible today for the fact that the Maronites haven’t agreed over a president? If they were to agree, was the whole world able to impose on them what they don’t want?
A: On the one hand, things are not that simple. On the other hand, if they didn’t agree over a president, this dossier should not go to Tehran or Damascus, or Washington, or Annapolis, or any other place in the world. Disappointingly, some Lebanese sides allow the external capitals to play an efficient role. Did anyone expect from us – as the majority – to do more than what we did? The deputies should head to parliament to elect a new president for the republic. There is a premeditated decision to block the presidential election and this should not be allowed.
Q: Why don’t you discuss the other dossiers such as the government among others?
A: We will discuss other issues, including the governmental dossier, in due time. We are not in the process of forming a government, but rather electing a president. The March 14 Forces chose General Michel Suleiman after he was praised by all political rivals, despite the pain we feel from this decision. This pain doesn’t stem from electing Suleiman himself, but from the constitutional amendment.