Targeting Army Aims to Thwart Efforts in Building a Powerful State
Head of the Lebanese Forces Executive Council Samir Geagea said on Tuesday that the atmosphere was “positive” during Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s visit to his residence in Maarab on Sunday night.
Geagea said that they discussed issues including the situation in Lebanon and the necessity of improving cooperation between the different parties within the March 14 alliance, especially in the lead up to the 2009 parliamentary elections.
He added that the Lebanese Forces was making detailed preparations in order to win the elections in collaboration with the March 14 coalition.
Geagea said that MP George Adwan would run for candidacy in the Chouf, where three Maronite seats are available. He said this would not obstruct the candidacy of Liberal National Party leader Dory Chamoun.
Geagea added that revealing the truth about the Bsarma incident, in which Marada Movement and Lebanese Forces supporters clashed and two people were killed, would make reconciliation easier.
He said he supported the efforts of the Maronite League and President Michel Sleiman’s role, without marginalizing the role of the Maronite Patriarchy.
Geagea announced his readiness to participate in bilateral meetings to reduce tension.
He said that the Lebanese Forces was informed about the reconciliations forged by its allies within the March 14 coalition, and he added that there was no need for reconciliation with Hezbollah because “the disagreement was only political.”
Geagea said that targeting the army aimed to hinder security and thwart efforts to build a powerful state. He added that he rejected claims that Saturday’s explosion in Damascus, which killed 17 people and left 14 wounded, was connected to Monday morning’s car bombing in Tripoli, which killed six people.
He said that Syria had not accused Israel of being responsible for the Damascus explosion and that Syria had announced the news regarding the bombing directly.
Geagea said that the details of a series of assassinations in Damascus, including of Hezbollah military leader Imad Mughniyah and Syrian officer Mohammad Sleiman, as well as Saturday’s explosion, remained unclear.
He emphasized that the current circumstances would not allow for the return of Syrian troops to Lebanon.
Geagea added that he feared some parties aimed to connect the recent explosions in different regions, some of which targeted the army while others were political assassinations, to accuse extremist parties.