Geagea Opposes Talks with Israel, Criticizes Aoun
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea opposed talks with Israel and criticized Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, saying the latter”s political demands serve Hizbullah and Syria.
Geagea, addressing a press conference at his residence in Meerab, said Aoun escalates his stands "while Hizbullah and Syria benefit to block (the political process) and they harvest their gains at the expense of the Christians."
The new Christian gathering declared at Aoun”s residence on Tuesday should be titled "the gathering of Jamil al-Sayyed and Rustom Gazaleh," Geagea said.
He said proposals to give the president a Christian minister and a Muslim minister in the forthcoming cabinet would "complicate issues."
Geagea cautioned that calls by Aoun to amend the Prime Minister”s powers would lead to further calls by other factions to amend the Parliament Speaker”s powers and this would be tantamount to a revision of the whole constitution.
Representing the Lebanese Forces in the new cabinet would be "in line with its popularity," Geagea stressed.
"Our main concern is to get Israel out of Shebaa farms … this is the mission of the Lebanese state," he added.
Geagea said the state should also handle the prisoner exchange issue.
"We are not for Lebanese-Israeli talks. When thorough Arab-Israeli peace is achieved, peace with Lebanon would be achieved," Geagea concluded.