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| Recent interview with Monday Morning. Will the new government take long to be formed? I think that Prime Ministerdesignate Najib Mikati is waiting for an answer from the forces of the new opposition, namely the March 14 forces, and I think this will not take much time.Do you expect the participation of the former majority in the new cabinet, and how do you interpret its preparations to mark thefifth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005?In my opinion, the March 14 forces do not exist anymore. In 2005, they united with the Free Patriotic Movement and Walid Jumblatt?s bloc. In fact, the expression ?March 14 forces?, is no longer valid since their movement is seen to be fragmented into many currents. In fact, they no longer form a homogeneous bloc.As to their marking of February 14, day, it is a traditional annual gathering. We will note there the absence of the Jumblattist group, and I only hope that this gathering will not be followed by a day of anger similar to that which took place recently in Tripoli and in other cities or regions where there was violence.No to any vindictive ideas How do you conceive the priorities of the new cabinet?The political scenery has changed after the departure of the Hariri government and the political dissensions concerning the indictment to be issued be the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [STL]. The first duty of the new cabinet will be to take a position towards this issue in a wise and intelligence way. We in the Free Patriotic Movement are concerned with finalizing this dossier.Combating corruption and the expropriation of public funds will figure at the top of our priorities. Then, we intend to form a cabinet of action farremoved from any notion of taking revenge.PRIORITY TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUESCan we conclude from your words that the new ministerial team will get down to studying the dossiers pertaining to the daily life of the citizens?The exclusion of the factions which dominated the national scene will enable us to speed up the study of these issues and find appropriate solutions for them.How do you explain this change in the positions of some MPs which brought in Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati?Prime Minister Saad Hariri made big mistakes because of his incapacity of clearly reading the changes which took place in the local and regional situation, wagering more on his relationships and the assistance of foreign powers.The Future Movement is now called to make a re-evalution of this new stage in order to participate with the other national parties in the political decisions. On the personal level, our relations are solid with Prime Minister Hariri and his work team, and General Michel Aoun has said that he has for him a paternal affection.But there is a difference between this paternal view and his management of national affairs, which did not succeed.Has the popularity of the FPM leader, General Michel Aoun, increased or not after the latest political developments?All the Christian leaderships affiliated with the Future Movement labor under an obsession with General Aoun, whose option triumphed over those of all the other political forces. They should therefore recognize this fact so as to be able to build together a prosperous future. Any Lebanese observer, especially a Christian observer, can notice in which way the Arab regimes have lost ground by having taken the side of the opposed [March 14] camp, in addition to the fall of this camp in Lebanon on the constitutional and democratic levels. All those who are endowed with a capacity for analysis can understand the intelligent strategy of General Aoun.FOR A REVISION OF THE TAEF AGREEMENT?Is there any tendency inside the FPM in favor of the revision of the Taef Agreement?We are witnessing a crisis of reigme resulting from many factors, some of a political nature, others of a confessional and sectarian kind.Lebanon needs a reforming group representing all the representative forces in the country, without any external interference, to reform our system in a way to make it conform to the modern developments of our time.All the parties should show an availability to elaborate the new political and social contract.What is your vision of the next stage?The next stage will be marked by a period of shortlived tensions, which will be followed quickly, by a stage of political stability, economic prosperity and social justice.Will the March 14 forces participate in the new cabinet? In fact, if they are not represented, the drafting of the new cabinet?s policy statement will not take much time. And how about the indictment of the STL and its timing?We cannot give our opinion on the timing of its publication, but what the former [opposition accomplished, had as an objective was to banish the specter of sectarian conflict from Lebanon. We will deal with this issue on the basis of these constants.How do you assess the relations between President Michel Sleiman and General Aoun?Our wish is that the head of state will remain at an equal distance from all the political forces and consequently, to remain a consensual president. This requires him to shun any idea based on the principle of the political rivalry among the various forces on the Lebanese scene.The rival camp says that Prime Minister-designate Mikati is your candidate. How do you reply?The opposition opted for the candidacy of Prime Minister Mikati on the basis of his attachment to two principles, namely the protection of the Resistance and his commitment to undertake reforms in all the economic and social dossiers.And how about the STL?We should act in order to spare Lebanon the negative repercussions of the international tribunal, especially since it bases its action on ?politicization?, in order to annihilate the Resistance in Lebanon. I should point out here that we will not demand from Prime Minister Mikati more that what Prime Minister Hariri promised during his negotiations with the Syrians, Saudis, Turks and Qataris. The clauses of the compromises are known by everybody, and what Prime Minister Hairir was ready to do, Prime Minister Mikati is also ready to do.What is your analysis of the events in Egypt?I think that the domino system of which America talked when it invaded Iraq is taking an opposite turn. The Americans dreamed of establishing regimes allied with them, and we see demonstrations take place in the Arab countries against foreign interference in their affairs. Also, the rival [March 14] Lebanese party lost an influential ally in the collapse to the Egyptian regime. |
Source: http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/en-US/129425751348726980.htm
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