Consensus Premier, Veto Powers

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun stressed on Monday that any negotiations to settle the ongoing crisis should go through him, called for nominating a consensus premier and demanded veto powers for the Hizbullah-led opposition in the forthcoming cabinet.

 

Talking to reporters after a meeting by his Reform and Change Bloc, Aoun said the Arabs “do not act without American approval or blessing.”

 

He added that an initiative adopted by Arab foreign ministers in Cairo includes “what had been included in the previous initiative that had failed.”

 

“General Aoun is the crossing pad to negotiations with any party that wants a settlement to the Lebanese crisis, be it domestic or external,” Aoun declared.

 

Regarding formation of the forthcoming cabinet, following the election of a new president, Aoun said: “We do not accept that two parties ally to eliminate a third party when related to decisions that require a vote of two thirds of cabinet members.

 

“Regarding any topic that requires two thirds, all the parties should be included. I propose the idea of 5+11+14. The first with the second can make up a majority and the first plus the third too … the two-third majority should be made up from the three sides.”

 

Aoun refused to give “a detailed opinion” regarding the Arab initiative pending “clarifications” by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, who is due in Beirut on Wednesday.

 

Nevertheless, Aoun said: “We welcome any initiative that helps in settling the problem in Lebanon, hoping that no one takes the place of the Lebanese.”