MP Murr: Lebanon Would Be Discussed at Summit
MP Michel Murr on Thursday declared support for the government decision to boycott the forthcoming Arab Summit in Damascus.
“As long as we don”t have a president, then the president”s seat at the summit should remain vacant,” Murr told reporters.
However, Murr said the summit that would convene in Damascus on Saturday would tackle the Lebanese crisis, even if Lebanon is absent.
Murr also declared support for a plan by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to sponsor dialogue among leaders of the various Lebanese factions if the summit failed to settle the Lebanon dispute.
Murr reiterated that his political viewpoint is “separate from that of the Change and Reform Parliamentary bloc” headed by MP Gen. Michel Aoun.
“They do not invite me to the bloc sessions and I won”t attend the meetings without an invitation,” he told reporters after receiving U.S. Charge d”Affaires Michele Sison at his residence in Rabiyeh, north of Beirut.
During an interview with the his own OTV station General Aoun said yesterday that he supports Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem”s criticism of the Lebanese government “s decision to boycott the Damascus summit.
“The Siniora Government decision to boycott the Damascus summit is wrong,” Aoun said.
He also defended Syria”s position regarding its innocence over the assassination of Lebanon”s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and its opposition to the International Tribunal.
“I believe that he who had killed Hariri is the enemy of Syria”, Aoun said and added ” the Charges made in the Hariri crime are mere political blackmailing”.
Aoun “s comments shocked MP Azzam Dandashi who accused Aoun of being bribed by the Syrians to switch his position 180 degrees . He asked” I wonder how much Aoun was paid to change his position ? And added. “It was Michel Aoun who declared from his exile in Paris that he is absolutely sure that it was the Syrians who are behind the assassination of Hariri”
Dandashi added: Perhaps the next surprise will be a statue for general Aoun in the streets of Damascus or Tehran to reward him for his efforts in protecting their interests in Lebanon. He added ” let me assure you Aoun”s dream of the presidency will be buried under his statue”.
Aoun also attacked the United States: ” the U.S. policy is against Lebanon and no one can convince me of the opposite.” And added ” we should defend ourselves against the American policy. ”