Aoun: Deal Made to Extend Parliament Term, Lebanon Can't be in One Axis against Another

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Timeline
Aoun: The war against terror must be comprehensive or else it will turn into a war over influence. over 9 years
Aoun: The issue of the IS cannot be resolved through a certain axis. It will lead to chaos if (the coalition) is not inclusive. over 9 years
Aoun: We're not with a certain state against another state. We're saying that the U.N. Security Council resolution must be implemented and that all parties that want to fight IS must be included. over 9 years
Aoun: As Lebanese, we cannot be in a certain axis against another axis. We are certainly against terrorism and we hope the U.N. will oversee all military operations against terrorism. over 9 years
Aoun: I don't think that the international anti-terrorism coalition has reached its wanted size and it must include all states that are directly affected, which means Iraq and Syria, and no one must be excluded. over 9 years
Aoun: I don't fear a return to the 1975 war as there is unity among Shiites, Sunnis and Christians, who are guarding side by side. There is no threat because the enemy is external. over 9 years
Aoun: It is not a secret that all Bekaa border towns are monitoring what's happening and that everyone has a rifle at their home. All people there have armed themselves as a precaution. over 9 years
Aoun: The cabinet is showing solidarity and unity and we backed the decisions taken during its sessions. We said that the army will lose in any negotiations with terrorists. over 9 years
Aoun: An officer told me that the Army Command received an ultimatum on August 2 to release Imad Jomaa or face clashes and the fighting erupted during the night. The Army Command must conduct a probe and pinpoint the mistakes and things must not remain mysterious. over 9 years
Aoun: Arsal had been a supply base long before Hizbullah went to Syria and so was Wadi Khaled. Everyone knew that and we raised the alarm and our ministers talked with Miqati during cabinet sessions. over 9 years
Aoun on Arsal's incidents: This is an accumulation. I asked Miqati several times not to dissociate himself from Arsal and Akkar, and what happened recently was a bigger infiltration into Arsal. Terrorism must be tackled the moment it starts, just like when you deal with a fire. over 9 years
Aoun: All the problems started and escalated in Arsal during the presence of a president. over 9 years
Aoun: Let Fatfat talk about March 14 because he is not Hizbullah's confidant. I did not discuss the issue of the presidency with Nasrallah. over 9 years
Aoun: I won't accept to discuss with March 14 the issue of choosing any other candidate. over 9 years
Aoun: I will not relinquish the confidence placed in me by the people and I may lose the battle but I won't give up the presidency. I'm a reformist man and drastic changes occur in all countries during crises. No one should say "this is not the right time" for electing the president by the people. over 9 years
Aoun: I'm not impeding the presidential vote and I told everyone who asked me that I don't mind that a president be elected in parliament, but I have the right not to elect anyone. over 9 years
Aoun: Negotiations with al-Mustaqbal movement stopped when they proposed extending Suleiman's term. As for the issue of elections, I proposed proportional representation and I didn't receive an answer from Mustaqbal. over 9 years
Aoun: Some ask me, "have you met this ambassador, have you talked to this state?" What kind of president gets elected this way? Michel Aoun does not accept to be the president of such a state. We want to have friendship ties with everyone but we don't want to be negated by everyone. It is unacceptable to have a president who is subordinate to foreign interests. The president must rule and he cannot rule if he is a follower. over 9 years
Aoun: I have not proposed any constitutional amendment and I don't have the capability to do it, so why are they considering my election as a coup against Taef? over 9 years
Aoun: Where should we get the president from? From Somalia? Denying the president's popular representation is a crime against democracy. over 9 years
Aoun: The president who should represent the Lebanese people cannot be "a doorman in Baabda" and nothing at all prevents granting him powers. over 9 years
Aoun: The mechanism of electing the president does not dictate the political system in Lebanon, as it also has to do with the president's powers. over 9 years
Aoun: The line-up might be different in the new parliament and it may call for the election of a new president and in my opinion, the current mechanism for electing the president is very futile. over 9 years
Aoun: We are ready for elections should they take place. over 9 years
Aoun: Speaker Berri has not totally rejected extension, because he said he rejects extending the term of a non-functional parliament. This means that he would accept extending the term of a functional parliament and I believe that the deal has been already made. over 9 years
Aoun: We are against extension but the majority of blocs want an extension. We want a new electoral law. over 9 years
Aoun: Our stance has not changed and we're with holding the elections. We will consider filing a challenge if an extension occurs. over 9 years
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on OTV: My nomination has been submitted and all options are on the table. If today's statements turn out to be true, then there will be an extension of the parliament's term as we were expecting, but we have submitted our nominations in order not to leave anything to chance. over 9 years

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday announced that a political “deal” to extend the parliament's mandate has been already reached among the various parties, noting that Lebanon cannot join an international coalition that might be aimed at confronting another coalition.

“My nomination has been submitted and all options are on the table. If today's statements turn out to be true, then there will be an extension of the parliament's term as we were expecting, but we have submitted our nominations in order not to leave anything to chance,” Aoun said in an interview on OTV, only hours before the deadline to file candidacies ended.

“Our stance has not changed and we're with holding the elections. We will consider filing a challenge (before the Constitutional Council) if an extension occurs,” Aoun added.

He said his bloc is against any extension of the legislature's term, lamenting that the majority of blocs “want an extension.”

“We want a new electoral law,” Aoun stressed.

He said Speaker Nabih Berri has not totally rejected extension, “because he said he rejects extending the term of a non-functional parliament.”

“This means that he would accept extending the term of a functional parliament and I believe that the deal has been already made,” Aoun added.

“We are ready for elections should they take place,” he said.

Turning to the issue of the stalled presidential election, Aoun said the line-up might be different in the new parliament should legislative polls take place.

“It may call for the election of a new president and in my opinion, the current mechanism for electing the president is very futile,” Aoun added.

“The president who should represent the Lebanese people cannot be 'a doorman in Baabda' and nothing at all prevents granting him powers,” he said.

Asked about his argument that he should be elected president because he has the biggest Christian bloc in parliament, Aoun replied: “Where should we get the president from? From Somalia? Denying the president's popular representation is a crime against democracy.”

“I have not proposed any constitutional amendment and I don't have the capability to do it, so why are they considering my election as a coup against Taef (Accord)?” Aoun asked, referring to his critics.

He revealed that negotiations with al-Mustaqbal movement over the presidential vote had stopped “when they proposed extending (former president Michel) Suleiman's term.”

“As for the issue of (parliamentary) elections, I proposed proportional representation and I didn't receive an answer from Mustaqbal.”

“I'm not impeding the presidential vote and I told everyone who asked me that I don't mind that a president be elected in parliament, but I have the right not to elect anyone,” the FPM leader went on to say.

He added: “I will not relinquish the confidence placed in me by the people and I may lose the battle but I won't give up the presidency.”

Describing himself as a “reformist man,” Aoun noted that drastic changes occur in all countries during crises.

“No one should say 'this is not the right time' for electing the president by the people,” he added, referring to his recent proposal to resolve the presidential crisis.

Asked about reports that his supporters are arming themselves under the excuse of confronting the Islamic State group and similar organizations, Aoun said “it is not a secret that all Bekaa border towns are monitoring what's happening and that everyone has a rifle at their home.”

“All people there have armed themselves as a precaution,” he said.

“I don't fear a return to the 1975 war as there is unity among Shiites, Sunnis and Christians, who are guarding side by side. There is no threat because the enemy is external,” Aoun added, referring to the IS.

Commenting on the U.S.-led efforts to form an international coalition aimed at confronting the threat posed by the IS, which has seized control of vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, Aoun said he does not believe the aforementioned axis has reached its wanted size.

“It must include all states that are directly affected, which means Iraq and Syria, and no one must be excluded,” Aoun stressed.

“As Lebanese, we cannot be in a certain axis against another axis. We are certainly against terrorism and we hope the U.N. will oversee all military operations against terrorism,” he added.

He also warned that the war against terror “must be comprehensive or else it will turn into a war over influence.”

Y.R.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 36
Thumb canadianpaul over 9 years

I like his nice shiny hair! That's it...

Missing coolmec over 9 years

you like his hair? why? lol

Missing coolmec over 9 years

anonym
actually I think he has not dyed it for a few days. Look again you will see some white hair...lol

Thumb kris over 9 years

Hair is shiny to divert attention from his eyes, he looks completely out of it and can barely open them...New medication maybe?

Default-user-icon Ghasib (Guest) over 9 years

It looks like Jido has been dyring his hair light brown

Default-user-icon Roubachouf (Guest) over 9 years

What a low-level language? exactly like Frangiye!
shame on our politicians!
get rid of them all

Thumb bill.thebutcher over 9 years

SOLID, ironical, rolling orb!
Master of all, and matter of fact!—at last I accept your terms;
Bringing to practical, vulgar tests, of all my ideal dreams,
And of me, as Patriot and hero.

General For President

Thumb canadianpaul over 9 years

And the laughter starts: "I have not proposed any constitutional amendment"

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

And 9 hours later the laughter hasn't ended yet.

Default-user-icon Aoun (Guest) over 9 years

"only person who stood up to syrian occupation"
propaganda propaganda propaganda

Thumb canadianpaul over 9 years

Nice one, texas. So true.

Missing coolmec over 9 years

he can forget getting elected president period

Default-user-icon Citezen (Guest) over 9 years

As a citizen of the Lebanese republic I would like to watch a public debate between Geagea ( officially candidate) and Aoun ( Unofficially candidate).
you'll want too?

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Aoun: I won't accept to discuss with March 14 the issue of choosing any other candidate.
How democratic.

Aoun: Speaker Berri has not totally rejected extension, because he said he rejects extending the term of a non-functional parliament. This means that he would accept extending the term of a functional parliament and I believe that the deal has been already made.
Define what is functional and non-functional.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Aoun: The president who should represent the Lebanese people cannot be "a doorman in Baabda" and nothing at all prevents granting him powers.
So when Hezbollah treated Sleiman as a doorman, where were you to criticise them?

Aoun: I'm not impeding the presidential vote and I told everyone who asked me that I don't mind that a president be elected in parliament, but I have the right not to elect anyone.
So if you don't mind a president being elected in parliament, why won't you discuss with March 14 on another candidate?

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Aoun: I have not proposed any constitutional amendment and I don't have the capability to do it, so why are they considering my election as a coup against Taef?
So this direct election isn't a constitutional amendment?

Aoun: All the problems started and escalated in Arsal during the presence of a president.
But I thought you talked to Miqati about this? Didn't you warn him?

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Aoun: The line-up might be different in the new parliament and it may call for the election of a new president and in my opinion, the current mechanism for electing the president is very futile.
So if the current mechanism is futile, why would your amendment be a coup against Ta'ef?

Aoun: Let Fatfat talk about March 14 because he is not Hizbullah's confidant. I did not discuss the issue of the presidency with Nasrallah.
Didn't you guys agree to the need for a strong president?

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Aoun: I don't fear a return to the 1975 war as there is unity among Shiites, Sunnis and Christians, who are guarding side by side. There is no threat because the enemy is external.
Yeah that explains 7 Ayyar, the bombings in Dahye, and the fighting in Tripoli.

Aoun: I will not relinquish the confidence placed in me by the people and I may lose the battle but I won't give up the presidency. I'm a reformist man and drastic changes occur in all countries during crises. No one should say "this is not the right time" for electing the president by the people.
So how are you a reformist if you aren't capable of proposing a constitutional amendment?

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

You can start by thumbing me up. I think my comments are worthy of your thumbs up

Thumb lebnanfirst over 9 years

And there is another saying by Albert Einstein:
"The difference between Genius and Stupidity is;
Genius has its limits."
Aoun knows no limits, enough said.

Missing karim- over 9 years

The liar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TczucmLgXd8

and his tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1UrmGj7Ddo

Missing karim- over 9 years

once a liar always a liar and one with a failed mission at that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of8ElcOCK5Q

Missing karim- over 9 years

even before taef his task was clear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z34yOKPpXUY

Missing callaeci over 9 years

Christians you illiterate cretin not Cristhians and this is to jog some memories

http://www.tayyar.org/NR/rdonlyres/D8726CC4-B415-4DFF-A497-81363ABBC490/0/SyrianChronicles021214_US.htm

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Yeah I told him to learn some English before, but he refused.

Thumb thepatriot over 9 years

He did not refuse nick... he just didn't understand! ;)

Missing callaeci over 9 years

Aoun: Negotiations with al-Mustaqbal movement stopped when they proposed extending Suleiman's term.

OH? Dude at least when you lie make it that it's unverifiable so you don't look foolish..

Michel Suleiman left office on 25 May 2014, on that date his term was over finished, done, kaput, he was an ex-president, was president no more.. As of 26 May 2014 his term could no longer be extended no matter.

Alain Aoun “We are engaged in dialogue with al-Mustaqbal regarding the presidential vote. 2 June 2014
Jebran Bassil expressed relief over the ongoing dialogue with al-Mustaqbal Movement.. 17 June 2014
On the dialogue between the FPM and the Future Movement, the FPM sources said that it is still ongoing.. 30 June 2014

Some people cannot tell a lie, others cannot tell the truth, Aoun cannot tell the difference..

Thumb Elemental over 9 years

Well it seems FT was asleep, morning all.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Or Aoun let him down

Thumb Elemental over 9 years

Gotta admit, saying all that so his family doesn't get killed by HA/Syria is a hefty price.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Conditions aren't right to nominate himself, but other candidates aren't allowed to be discussed because he has the right not to elect anyone; direct elections are proposed, then he's not capable to amend the constitution because it's a coup against Taef but somehow he's a reformist...The moral of the story is that while some politicians flip-flop and change stances over a certain period of time, Michel Naim Aoun contradicts himself in the same sentence. This interview today proved his advanced dementia, and it's hard to understand how people could follow such an ill person. He is clearly not in condition to lead his party let alone a nation. He should be put in a mental institution, because he has lost all sense of reality.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Aoun licks the blood off Assad's hands. It's 2014 not 1990.

Thumb thepatriot over 9 years

Thank you for your kindergarten logic FT... you're brilliant!

Thumb LEBhasNOhope over 9 years

If Claoun doesn't become president it means that Claoun and ASSad lost as a team Flamer.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Of course all the Aouniyeh thumb robots come out at night

Thumb beiruti over 9 years

Complete self contradictory nonsense. He does not remember from one minute to the next what he is saying or has said. He is not opposed to Parliament electing anyone for President, but he reserves the "right" not to vote for anyone and his boycott of Parliament imposes his alleged "right" on everyone else not to vote for anyone.