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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Aoun: I Will Not Grieve over Feltman |
| 2009-03-11 |
| MP Michel Aoun on Monday took a jab at Jeffrey Feltman saying he was "not in mourning" for being snubbed by the top U.S. envoy, who visited Lebanon twice last week but did not include the Free Patriotic Movement leader in talks with the political leadership. "Feltman did not visit me. And I am not in morning," Aoun said, after a weekly meeting of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc. "I gained an hour of what could have been a waste of my time," he added. Feltman and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro were in Lebanon on Friday and again Sunday to reassure leaders of Washington's continued support despite rapprochement with Syria. Shifting his focus to Lebanon, Aoun slammed the judiciary for becoming politicized and said he did not want a review of recent judicial appointments rather a revamp of the whole system. A reshuffle Friday of top judicial posts, ending a three-year vacuum, sparked controversy after the parliamentary minority voiced reservations over some nominations and slammed the move as "politicized." "Judicial independence is missing," Aoun said, lamenting that the judiciary "has become subject to partitioning and to the (political) authority." The way through which the appointments were handled was reminiscent of "the former troika" system, Aoun said. He was referring to the previous system of governance under President Emile Lahoud, late Premier Rafik Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri, when the three top figures monopolized decision-making. "As a matter of principle, we reject and oppose the conditions under which the judicial appointments were made," Aoun said. He explained that the minority's position on the appointments was not a personal attack against the judges. "Regardless of who the judges are, there are ethical standards that must be implemented and this is a matter we will not compromise on." The judicial appointment that drew the most controversy was that of the Investigative Magistrate into the February 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri, Judge Saqr Saqr, who was named government delegate to the military tribunal. Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted sources from the opposition as saying Suleiman's appointment of Saqr was a "reward" for his refusal to free the four former security chiefs detained for alleged involvement in the Hariri assassination. "The judiciary's most important qualities are integrity and competence," Aoun said, disclosing that his bloc was preparing a draft law under which Parliament would ensure judicial independence. Under the bill, the Supreme Judicial Council will become the "highest elected authority and will have command of decision-making." Aoun said what he was proposing was "a new judicial system altogether." On the much anticipated elections, Aoun warned that "registrars in some provinces, such as the Shouf-Alley, have been falsifying identity cards." He urged Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to put an end to the practice saying "we are ready to help the judiciary uncover the offenders." |
| Posted by:Fred |