Berri and I Not Speaking Same Language; Enough Hizbullah Disarmament Talk
MP Michel Aoun said at a press conference Monday that Speaker Nabih Berri was speaking at a "different wave length" concerning the cabinet shape-up and voiced deep concern over Israel”s recent escalating tones.
Berri earlier said he expected the government”s make-up to be finalized before the end of the month.
Asked whether he shared Berri”s optimism, Aoun said: "Berri and I are speaking at different wave lengths on the issue. But I hope he is right. I would not be dismayed if he was right."
"I will be very glad if a government is formed by the end of the month," he said after the weekly meeting of his parliamentary bloc.
He called on the majority to "form the government in Lebanon and to stop waiting for outside interference… the identity and location of who is forming the government is unknown."
On Israel, Aoun slammed the international outcry over last week”s explosion of an arms cache in the village of Khirbet Selm. He also criticized the United Nations for its failure to make the Israel respect Lebanon”s sovereignty.
"We are very concerned over Israel”s behaviors. We are also concerned over a world that violates our rights and voices dismay over the presence of a weapons cache in our country, but fails to see the fully equipped Israeli planes that fly in our airspace," he added.
"Our entire arsenal cannot be compared to the weapons being given to Israel," he said.
"From now on, let no one speak to us about Hizbullah”s weapons arsenal. Enough with this insolence," Aoun added.
He called on the Lebanese people to "unite" against what the international community was trying to impose on Lebanon.
"What do the United States and Europe want from us? They do not have the right to control us just because they are major powers," Aoun said.
On Israel”s call for the amendment of Resolution 1701, Aoun said UNIFIL should "first deploy on both sides of the border, create a buffer zone and stop (Israeli) violations of our land, before thinking of changing its rules of engagement."
"The Lebanese army has the sole authority to enter people”s homes if necessary," he said.
He was referring to UNIFIL”s attempt last week to raid the Khirbet Selm house to investigate the blast, in violation of the force”s rules of engagement and without coordination with the army. Fourteen peacekeepers were injured when protesters tried to stop the investigation.