Aoun continues visit to Syria, relays “love” to residents of homs
President Michel Sleiman said Friday that Lebanon "draws its strength from its state."
In a statement before a delegation from the Bekaa Valley region of Zahleh, Sleiman called on the Lebanese to "avoid confessional bickering and work to promote national unity and coexistence."
Sleiman, who returned late Thursday from a visit to Germany, will travel next to Jordan, according to a report carried by Agence France Presse”s (AFP) Arabic service. The report quoted an unidentified Jordanian official as saying that the president was expected in Amman on December 14.
Sleiman will be in Amman for one day, during which he will meet King Abdullah II to discuss "the situation in the region and economic relations between the two countries," AFP quoted the source as saying.
MP Michel Murr said Friday that Sleiman "alone" had the authority to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon.
After meeting US Ambassador Michelle Sison, Murr said: "Michel Sleiman, who is the consensus president, is the only person entitled to negotiate on behalf of the Lebanese and to establish good relations with Syria and Iran or any other country."
Murr”s statement followed a speech delivered by the president to Arab ambassadors in Berlin on Thursday, during which he urged other countries to deal with Lebanon through the head of state, who is "in charge of relations with other states."
The president”s remark coincided with a visit to Syria by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, who was received by President Bashar Assad on Wednesday.
Commenting on Aoun”s visit, Murr said that Syria”s friendly welcome for the former general was "its duty and has nothing to do with [Damascus”] position toward him."
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, Murr said: "Before the last elections in 2005, Aoun would ask himself how he could become aligned with Murr, who has a relationship with Syria. Today I ask myself the same question."
Aoun continued his tour of Syria on Friday with a visit to the city of Homs, where he was welcomed by residents.
"I convey to you the love of the Lebanese people, who are seeking to promote their relations with you," he told the crowd before heading to Aleppo.
Aoun is expected to hold a second round of talks with Assad on Saturday.
Many politicians from the March 14 Forces, mainly the Lebanese Forces (LF), have harshly criticized Aoun”s visit.
LF MP Antoine Zahra said Friday that Aoun should have "passed by Bkirki before talking about representing the Christians of the Orient and visiting Christian holy sites in Syria."
Also Friday, March 14 MP Butros Harb paid a visit to LF leader Samir Geagea.
In comments following the meeting, Harb slammed Aoun for expressing reservations about the Taif Accord, which ended the 1975-1990 Civil War but many of whose terms remain unimplemented. He said Aoun”s statements were "explosive and stirred the feelings of Lebanon”s Christians."
During a lecture at Damascus University on Thursday, Aoun said that he had several reservations on Taif, especially articles pertaining to the distribution of
powers between the president and the prime minister. "If it had not been for Aoun”s wars against Syria, we would not have gone to Taif," Harb added.
In 1989, Aoun launched a "war of liberation" against Syrian forces in Lebanon that ended with his being exiled in France for 15 years.
Separately, the March 14 Forces expressed concerns over the resumption of security tensions and attacks against civilians and journalists.
In a statement issued following a meeting at Future Movement leader Saad Hariri”s residence in Qoreitem late Thursday, March 14 leaders reiterated their usual statement of commitment to promoting Lebanon”s independence and establishing the state”s authority over the entire country, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought a cessation of hostilities in the 2006 war with Israel.
They also called for implementing the recommendations of the national dialogue, especially on border demarcation and the establishment of diplomatic ties between Lebanon and Syria, as well as resolving the issue of Palestinian weapons outside refugee camps.
The statement said that the movement was preparing to reveal a program for "national unity" and its lists of candidates for the 2009 elections.
Speaker Nabih Berri said Friday that the poll would take place on time no matter what happened, adding that he saw no reason for the concerns raised by some parties.
In an interview with As-Safir newspaper, Berri also praised efforts by Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud to provide voters with new identification cards so they would be able to cast ballots in the elections.
As for citizens who do not receive identification cards prior to the elections, Berri said he would act in coordination with the Cabinet to ensure that no one legally entitled to vote would be barred from doing so.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah”s Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc praised Sleiman”s "efforts to promote Lebanon”s presence in the world."
In a statement, the bloc urged the Lebanese people to "support the president in his positions and national political strategy, which is based on [Taif], last May”s Doha Accord, his presidential oath and the unity government”s policy statement."
On a different level, former President Amin Gemayel said that he would not accuse Syria of killing his son, former Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, before the Special Tribunal on former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri”s assassination issues indictments.
In an interview with LBC television on Thursday night, he added that Aoun”s visit to Damascus was normal because the latter had previously "defined his choices."
Gemayel said a solution should be reached to all controversial issues between the two countries, such as the Lebanese missing in Syria and border demarcation. "Syria has yet to show good intentions toward Lebanon," he stated.
The Phalange Party leader said he had received an invitation to visit Damascus, adding that he supported forging excellent relations with Syria, but this issue should be done at the right moment "because, in order to reach positive results, no visits should surpass the legitimacy of the Lebanese presidency and premiership."
He added that he also received an invitation from Tehran, saying he would visit when the time was appropriate for Lebanon”s interests.