Hogasapian: “There is no US/ Syria deal at Lebanon”s expense
MP Jean Hogasapian, Minister of State for Administrative Development explained that the visit of American Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs David Welch to Beirut is to confirm that there is no American-Syrian deal at Lebanon’s expense.
Hogasapian added that the purpose of Welch’s visit is to tell the ruling majority “ go ahead and elect a president on the basis of a majority of half plus one and we will support you .”
President Bush confirmed this green signal during his press conference on Thursday when he said “ we welcome and support the French effort on finding a compromise candidate as the next president of Lebanon but if this effort fails the Lebanese majority should go ahead and elect a president on the basis of a majority of half plus one and we and the whole world will recognize the new president”
Regarding the refusal of Welch to visit General Michel Aoun Hogasapian said : This is the decision of the US administration.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun, a member of the Hezbollah-led opposition and a negotiator for the opposition, slammed U.S. policies in Lebanon and Welch”s refusal to meet with him.
“U.S. policies represent a danger for Lebanon. Welch”s visit is incomplete and will not lead to a solution,” he added
During his last surprise visits , Welch met all the key Lebanese leaders except General Michel Aoun. Aoun’s alliance with the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah group has irritated the Lebanese majority alliance which is backed by the US. US ambassador Jeffrey Feltman said “ Aoun sounds more and more like Butheina Shaaban” , Syria”s Expatriates Minister and a regular critic of the US.
Hogasapian said the preconditions that Aoun, on behalf of the Hezbollah led opposition is trying to force on the majority prior to the election of a president are wrong . “If the opposition is sincere about negotiations , first it must remove all its tents from downtown Beirut and reopen the parliament for the election of the President, after this is done , we will be willing to sit down and negotiate all the issues .
The downtown of Beirut has been occupied for over a year by the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition to bring down the government of prime minister Fouad Siniora.. Tents have been erected everywhere to prevent the operation of the businesses in the area. Over 200 businesses have closed down and declared bankruptcy and tens of thousands of employees lost their jobs as a result of this occupation.