Aoun Says Will Not Run in Presidential Race if Mustaqbal Endorses Geagea

by Naharnet Newsdesk 10 years

Timeline

Aoun: Army chief General Jean Qahwaji requires a constitutional amendment to be elected president. The constitution has not been respect at all since 1990 and it does not allow Qahwaji to be elected president. 10 years

Aoun on extending president Michel Suleiman's term: I have stressed repeatedly on respecting the constitution and on electing a new head of state. 10 years

Aoun: We thank Suleiman Franjieh on his support and we are more than friends. Of course I will support him if he decided to run for presidency. 10 years

Aoun: The Syrian regime protected Christians as much as it protected itself. Before the war, there was no sectarianism in Syria, but a freedom of belief. 10 years

Aoun: I have an education program to fight sectarianism. 10 years

Aoun: We call for good relations with everyone, and national unity is far more important to me than presidency. 10 years

Aoun: Assad improved his situation on ground remarkably. Since the beginning I supported good bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. 10 years

Aoun: We did not perceive any initiative from the Syrian opposition, but from Takfiris. 10 years

Aoun: President Bashar Assad was strong and that's what enabled him to resist. But this caused destruction and chaos in Syria. Talks must resume in Syria. 10 years

Aoun: We would have hoped that the regime in Syria was democratic and respected people's desires. What made us adopt a certain stance in respect to the situation in the country was evaluating the alternatives that would take over if the regime was overthrown. 10 years

Aoun: We have received positives signs from Speaker Berri regarding the parliamentary session to elect a president. 10 years

Aoun: I never endorse vacuum. And the same standards followed in choosing the speaker and the premier must apply to electing the new president. I do not want the presidency. It is either we respect this Christian post and Christian representation or we don't. 10 years

Aoun: Each person must evaluate what Lebanon needs in the presidency, not their own needs. 10 years

Aoun: I will not be a nominee against Samir Geagea. I don't want to be a nominee against anyone. 10 years

Aoun: If the March 14 coalition announced its support for LF leader Samir Geagea for presidency, I will not nominate myself. 10 years

Aoun: Without the support of the Shiites, the Druzes, and Hizbullah, I won't become president. 10 years

Aoun: I have big plans for Lebanon and the country has been on the same path since 1943. We want to change this path. 10 years

Aoun: Nothing is more important than national unity, and weapons are not our priority. We resist when the land is occupied. 10 years

Aoun: I haven't received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia and my relation with the kingdom has improved. 10 years

Aoun: We want to befriend all Arab countries and any dispute with a nation, results in confusion inside the country. 10 years

Aoun: We had to work on convincing everyone that making concessions is not important, but that we must find solutions to problems in order to form a cabinet. I am constantly in contact with al-Mustaqbal party. 10 years

Aoun: I met with (former PM) Hariri once in Rome and the talks aimed at forming the cabinet. We talked about collaboration in the future, and we opened a new chapter in the relation between us. 10 years

Aoun: I haven't conducted any evaluations or statistics on who supports me and who doesn't. I should be supported by all factions, and I am aiming at a three-party accord. 10 years

Aoun: The popularity test takes place during the parliamentary elections. In university elections the results are always controversial, but the parliamentary results are clear. I do not want to compare my popularity with that of the Lebanese Forces. 10 years

Aoun: There is no resistance without the people. The legitimacy of the resistance comes from the occupation. Everyone today acknowledges the threats on Lebanese water, oil and maritime border, in addition to the daily land and airspace violations. 10 years

Aoun on the "wooden vs. golden equation:" We lament that some people lose their objectivity and speak out of their personal interests, rather than national ones. 10 years

Aoun: The resistance gave the best results and was able to do what all armies of the world did not do. All these nations looked up to the achievements of the resistance. 10 years

Aoun: Discussion over terms is useless and we would not have a resistance if it wasn't embraced by the people. The resistance came into being thanks to people's support, especially thanks to southerners' support. 10 years

Aoun: The first decision I would take if I became president would be related to security, because there are many issues that need to be solved whether on the border with Syria or with Israel. 10 years

Aoun: Lebanon's presidents come to the post with commitments to foreign nations. I am not that type, and I want to achieve the dream that I want. It is not about money or power, but I want to leave a legacy that would be remembered in Lebanon and I want to offer a program that solves problems on many levels in the country. 10 years

Aoun: If a nominee was not independent, they cannot become president and will not accomplish anything. 10 years

FPM leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on Al-Mayadeen: If conditions were favorable, I am a candidate for the presidency, and I am a strong candidate. And if they were not, then I will not nominate myself and the decision is not final yet. 10 years

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Wednesday that he will not be a presidential candidate against Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea, if the latter gained al-Mustaqbal Movement's support.

"If the March 14 coalition and al-Mustaqbal Movement announced their support for Geagea in the presidential elections, I will not nominate myself,” Aoun stated in an interview on Al-Mayadeen television.

"I will not be a nominee against Samir Geagea. I don't want to run against anyone,” he added.

“If conditions were favorable, I am a candidate for presidency, and I am a strong one. And if they were not, then I will not nominate myself.”

“My decision is not final yet,” he noted.

Aoun stressed that the same standards followed in choosing the speaker and the premier must apply to electing the new president, adding that "a presidential vacuum is possible if proper Christian representation was not respected."

“It is either we respect this Christian post and Christian representation or we don't,” he said.

The FPM leader remarked that without the support of the Shiites and the Druze, he will not be elected president.

He also rejected comparing the FPM's popularity with that of the LF, saying parliamentary elections are a clear indication of the popular support to either parties.

On his plans if elected president, Aoun said: “Lebanon's presidents come to the post with commitments to foreign nations. I am not that type and it is not about money or power. I want to leave a legacy, and I want to offer a program that solves problems on many levels in the country.”

“I have big plans for Lebanon and the country has been on the same path since 1943. We want to change this path.”

Asked about Hizbullah's resistance, Aoun commented that it would not have existed if people didn't embrace it.

“The resistance gave the best results and was able to do what all armies of the world were not capable of doing. All these nations looked up to the achievements of the resistance.”

He also acknowledged during the interview that he met with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Italian capital Rome.

“We talked about collaboration in the future, and we opened a new chapter in bilateral relations,” he revealed.

Separately, Aoun said he would have hoped that the regime in Syria was democratic and respected people's desires.

“But what made us adopt a certain stance in respect to the situation in the country was our evaluation of alternatives that would prevail if the regime was overthrown,” he said,

He pointed out that Syrian President Bashar Assad's strength enabled him to endure until now, praising also the regime's "protection of Christians in the neighboring country."

S.D.B.

Y.R.

SourceNaharnet

Lebanon Politics

Comments 28

Mystic 10 years

He looks extremely healthy & young, for a man his age. Good luck General Aoun

popeye 10 years

"Aoun: Without the support of the Shiites, the Druzes, and Hizbullah, I won't become president."

Without the support of the shiites, you are nobody!

kanaandian 10 years

usually at his age, your mind starts going in reverse.
soon the general will be playing with lego and playdoo.

amatoury114 10 years

fystic.....you do realise that pictures might be from archive.....nevertheless healthy or not man of his age or not ur comment did not add to the world but a waste of time....good luck aoun?? u want the country to go bye bye???

lebneneh 10 years

What kind of logic is that? Will not run against anyone?! No one understands democracy in this country???

-phoenix1 10 years

FD, Bani Maarouf believes that he has gotten over with his chronic constipation, now he has acute diarhea.

-phoenix1 10 years

Tex and Mystic, how come Haifa is so gorgeous and so desirable, yet old man Aoun who supposedly is taking the same treatment looks so ugly? Lols.

arzak-ya-libnan 10 years

You are the because. Lol.

popeye 10 years

lunacy at its best

Les.Mzelles.Aoun 10 years

@wolf<:-|, Speaking of urinating in pajamas, you know I still have the one he was wearing when he ran away and deserted his army and the people in back in 1990, I plan to put it on eBay once he shuffles off to the great beyond and an eternity by Mephistopheles side. It's my nest egg knowing that the general will leave all his ill-gotten gains to Bassil. Oh why why did I let Sami Nader go now I'm stuck with the three stooges Gebran, Roy and Chamel!

mckinl 10 years

LOL !

Where did you pull those figures from?

Nevermind ...

michael715 10 years

GMA always says," I....." too many times. He should think of the ones he represents more often. Aoun is owned by others and a slave to their agenda. Lebanon would be better served if Michel went back to France.

Loubnani 10 years

There are many in our country who are more and better qualified to lead the country than Aoun, Geagea, Frankjieh, Gemayel or any other relic from the 70s and 80s. We really have to move on or else we'll always be stuck in the past...

helicopter 10 years

I wish M14 would nominate Baroud or others like him.

helicopter 10 years

Not at all, I wish they would. I left them out of my post because I try not to post fiction.

Loubnani 10 years

Baroud should at least be a candidate and if there still is a spec of dignity in our country then he should have a good chance at reaching that post. He is a man of principle, educated and a visionary. However will he be able to survive the Lebanese political scene that is so corrupt? I really hope so

-phoenix1 10 years

This one post from you Loubnani that receives my full support.

helicopter 10 years

He al;ready did in this interview. How many times, and in how many ways must he say that the Past, Present and Future of Lebanon is the Resistance and its accomplishments that so astonished the whole world and accomplished what all other armies were unable to accomplish. That is his vision in a nut shell. He will get his revelation from its leader SHN.

helicopter 10 years

OMG, your post is making me sick .... Are you sure Franjieh has a chance?

Carl (Guest) 10 years

The man that enjoys the second largest presence in parliament (and the council) is more able to make things happen than Dr. Geagea. Also is Dr. Geagea able to unite the lebanese people? I think that General Michel Aoun also has important social, economic and educational plans. I hope he becomes Lebanon's next president, deservedly so.
J'estime que Michel Aoun est un homme honnete et patriotique entouré d'une equipe capable et professionelle et qu'il est l'homme fort dont le Liban a besoin a la presidence.
Bonne chance a tous les candidats (sauf a tous ceux qui ne sont pas Michel Aoun ou Sleimane Franjieh) et esperons que le meilleur soit élu!

Carl (Guest) 10 years

Of course you can - in fact you should before taking a final stance - read in detail the many ideas and plans that Michel Aoun has in regards to education, economy, security and international relations in his book 'une certaine vision du Liban' available in different languages.
A lot has been said about this man in an effort to damage his image...

FlameCatcher 10 years

Aoun "I don't want to run against anyone,” he added."

Thank you for showing how democratic you can be !

Please Aoun, RUN ! Run against Geagea ! I'm not daring you, I'm begging you for the sake of a semblance of democracy !

FlameCatcher 10 years

@FD : HA made it loud and clear : They do not want Aoun. They do not want a "Strong president". And they certainly don't want to negotiate. Just read M8 toilet paper newspaper and you will see the weekly messages Hezbollah addresses to Aoun reminding him he's nothing without them.

This is why Aoun cannot run without Hariri's blessing.

For me, neither Geagea nor Aoun are options. Baroud is great ! He would in fact be the best president in a "utopic" world. But he's weak !

I believe Lebanon doesn't deserve democracy anyway because Lebanese are sheep and domesticated sheep do not understand freedom, opinion, politics or anything else. They only understand orders and their view of the world is limited to that dictated by their leaders and to the fences within which they roam.

-phoenix1 10 years

No ya General Aoun, no, no and no, NOT you, and not Geagea, and not Amin Gemayel and not young Frangieh. Enough of you old lot, you old dinausors, wlak ya jame3a, ma fi gheyrkoun?! Wou 2eyss? We Lebanese have many great people, younger men and women, why do I, an educated citizen accept to be led by you guys, all of whom can't even make it to 3rd grade? Please, for the love of folk and nation, all of you, stay home and don't come out of it till we have a new person. Stay home and buckle it all of you, will you?!

-phoenix1 10 years

Correct dear LF, correct, they are rich criminals who only want to get richer and more powerful. They are seriously expired stuff, not fit for anything except the dump of history. If anyone of them crooks is elected, then all of Lebanon should be thrown into that same dump, with all the Lebanese, period.

-phoenix1 10 years

Jumblatt is the gate keeper of the dump site where all these sods should be dumped.

-phoenix1 10 years

He is one of the good guys, one that is clearly separated from the bad and ugly.

-phoenix1 10 years

Gabby, add a pair of Addidas sprint running shoes.