Aoun Not scared Off by Vacuum, Refuses to Compromise

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Thursday dealt yet another blow to efforts exerted by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to settle Lebanon”s ongoing Presidential Crisis.

 

Aoun told a news conference he rejects compromising on his initiative, vowing to update it daily and stating that “we are not scared by vacuum” in the presidential office.

 

Aoun said he “insists on a political understanding before amending the constitution, and we will not make any concessions in this regard.”

“We want parliamentary consultations prior to the election of a president,” Aoun said.

 

He stressed that he wants a president who has veto powers in the forthcoming cabinet “because without that he will not be able to achieve anything.”

 

He stressed that he wants an agreement with the majority on the formation of the forthcoming cabinet prior to the presidential election.

 

“A consensus president is not subject to majority and minority, but to consensus democracy,” Aoun stressed. He did not elaborate on the remark.

 

Asked whether he was prepared to give up any of the terms included in his initiative, Aoun said: ill add up a term to the initiative every day. My best offer is my first offer.”

 

He said his initiative does not represent “obstacles, but rather rights.”

 

Aoun renewed his attack on Premier Fouad Saniora”s majority government, charging that it has “ruined the nation.”