General Michel Aoun disclosed in an interview published Saturday that he has met Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah right after the end of the war of aggression on Lebanon that devastated the country. He described the meeting as "not ordinary" and "very warm, particularly because there is a special sentiment between him (Nasrallah) and I." But Aoun did not disclose where he met Nasrallah or what they have discussed.| Aoun said that there were two forces pulling the country in different directions. "A popular force that enjoys vivid strength and determination to rebuild the country; and a political force which still dominates the Lebanese decision-making," he explained, in a clear reference to the March 14 Forces from one side, and Hezbollah and Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement on the other. |
Aoun's remarks came in an interview with As-Safir daily published Saturday. On his opinion of a national dialogue, Aoun said that there were two forces pulling the country in different directions. "A popular force that enjoys vivid strength and determination to rebuild the country; and a political force which still dominates the Lebanese decision-making," he explained, in a clear reference to the March 14 Forces from one side, and Hezbollah and Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement on the other.
However the former army general expressed willingness to "sit together Â… unconditionally" with parliament's majority leader Saad Hariri and PSP chief Walid Jumblatt, Aoun's major foes.
Aoun also slammed the Taef accord which has put an end to the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war, accusing it of trimming the Christians. "That (Taef) accord had margined half the Lebanese, which means it had margined all the Christians; and we will not accept to remain margined," Aoun said.
Aoun was skeptical about taking part in a national unity government, "because by the mere participation in such a government I will be inheriting 15 previous yeas that have led to all the collapse." This is contrary to HezbollahÂ’s call for including Aoun in a new government Aoun and Nasrallah have been repeatedly calling for the resignation of Premier Fouad Siniora's government and the formation of a national unity government.