Aoun defended remarks made by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah

 
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun said there was no use for a quartet meeting if the pro-government ruling majority was not willing to accept partnership with the opposition.

 

“If they are coming to the meeting to reject settlements and partnership, I advise them to stay home,” Aoun said in an interview with the pro-opposition al-Akhbar daily on Friday.

 

“I tell (government) loyalists that if they are willing to respond to our call for partnership, we are ready,” Aoun said. “Otherwise, let them not bother to set dates for meetings.”

 

Aoun said that what he has heard from Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and MP Saad Hariri was “not good news,” adding that the two leaders backed down on previous agreements.

 

He stressed that the Hizbullah-led opposition will not accept to be deprived of an influential role in the new cabinet.

 

On the different points of view within the opposition over representation in a new government, Aoun said he is committed to “ensuring participation.”

 

“If the three tens (formula) with some guarantees ensures that participation, then we (opposition) are for it,” he said.

 

On the guarantees he is demanding, Aoun said they include the president”s commitment to adopt consensus policies and a two-thirds of the quorum required to approve action as well as the distribution of portfolios in a national unity government and the adoption of the electoral law based on the 1960 law, in addition to clauses related to the government plan of action.

 

Aoun defended remarks made by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah following the assassination of the party”s commander Imad Mughniyeh.

 

He said Nasrallah had “the right to defend himself, particularly since Israeli leaders over and over again declared their intention to liquidate him as well as other Hizbullah officials.”

 

That was a reference to Nasrallah”s “open war” declaration against Israel.