Aoun: Hizbullah arms should be awarded a diploma of good conduct
Source: Agencies, 05-05-2008
In his weekly press conference following a Change and Reform bloc meeting, bloc head General Michel Aoun defended Hizbullah's communications network as integral to the defense of Lebanon. "Hizbullah's arms should be awarded a diploma of good conduct," proven through a 27 years long track record he added.
"We still await the Prime Minister to issue a law concerning the spy network," Aoun commented. "There are private communications networks other than those of Hizbullah." The MP noted that there were "private security companies working among citizens," questioning what the defense or purpose of such entities could be.
Aoun drew the Lebanese Forces into a comparison with Hizbullah. "There are Lebanese Forces in Rmeish and Qlayat, and they move freely, so why should Hizbullah not move in Kesrouan and Jbeil?" he asked.
MP Aoun also accused Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, who said on Saturday he had information indicating the expansion of a Hizbullah communication network throughout Lebanon, of being "sectarian and blood-thirsty."
"Who is Walid Jumblatt to harass Kesrouan and Jbeil?" Aoun demanded, Jumblatt rather allow the return of Christians he forced out of their homes during the civil war, and are still dislocated until now.
Aoun responded to Jumblatt's insinuation that Hizbullah may also have control over the Beirut airport by asking whether the army had been infiltrated "so that its reports reach Jumblatt and (Telecommunications Minister Marwan) Hamadeh." Aoun said any cameras on the road to the airport did not a breach of security, pinpointing the Google search engine as the source of any security breaches.
"The road to Bikfaya is full of cameras, and they monitor us on the way up and the way down," Aoun said, alluding to the pro-government Kataeb Party.
Aoun also said the Zahle crime did not meet the requirements to be transferred to the judicial council. In April, a gunman opened fire on a Kataeb gathering in Zahle, killing two Kataeb activists and wounding three others. "The Zahle crime is individual and not political. It happened between two armed persons."
Aoun renewed his critique of the government, saying that the pro-(US-backed) government alliance wanted to turn Lebanese citizens into beggars. The General also said the prominent Lebanese daily An-Nahar had veered away from the ethical principles of journalism. "This paper no longer deserves to be read by anyone, for it is 'March 14' (US backed ruling bloc) propaganda," he added.
Aoun also advised Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butrous Sfeir to refrain from giving advice to his pro-(US-backed) government allies in power.
Aoun, also the head of the Hizbullah-allied Free Patriotic Movement, accused the pro-government alliance of having fled from dialogue when it became a real possibility. "We will not leave the country as it has been for the past three years," he said.
The FPM leader said the government and its supporters intended on disrupting the decree of a new electoral law to ensure the 2009 elections are held using the 2000 electoral law. "What brought us to the vacuum is international plots and internal cooperation," he added. "Anyone - secular or religious - who speaks of presidential elections before the electoral law and participation in government conspires against the Christians and insists on their marginalization." Aoun said the price of the two-third formula was the 11-19 participation formula in the government.
General Aoun said that, while he had hoped Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa would address the ruling team, his faith had waned. "Elections by a simple-majority vote is a coup and will be met with another coup," he stated.
"In 1998, we said that Rafik Hariri was burning the country ... Today, we say that if the same people remain (in power), the economic situation will deteriorate even more," Aoun said. "The crisis lies in the Grand Serail, where the government is."
Aoun said there was an attempt to blur or overlook the general strike planned by the General Workers Union for May 7. "Riots are prohibited, and security forces are responsible for controlling riots, and not preventing protests," Aoun said.
"We appeal to employers and workers to demonstrate on May 7 together for the government which caused the catastrophe in Lebanon to leave," he stated.
In his weekly press conference following a Change and Reform bloc meeting, bloc head General Michel Aoun defended Hizbullah's communications network as integral to the defense of Lebanon. "Hizbullah's arms should be awarded a diploma of good conduct," proven through a 27 years long track record he added.
"We still await the Prime Minister to issue a law concerning the spy network," Aoun commented. "There are private communications networks other than those of Hizbullah." The MP noted that there were "private security companies working among citizens," questioning what the defense or purpose of such entities could be.
Aoun drew the Lebanese Forces into a comparison with Hizbullah. "There are Lebanese Forces in Rmeish and Qlayat, and they move freely, so why should Hizbullah not move in Kesrouan and Jbeil?" he asked.
MP Aoun also accused Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, who said on Saturday he had information indicating the expansion of a Hizbullah communication network throughout Lebanon, of being "sectarian and blood-thirsty."
"Who is Walid Jumblatt to harass Kesrouan and Jbeil?" Aoun demanded, Jumblatt rather allow the return of Christians he forced out of their homes during the civil war, and are still dislocated until now.
Aoun responded to Jumblatt's insinuation that Hizbullah may also have control over the Beirut airport by asking whether the army had been infiltrated "so that its reports reach Jumblatt and (Telecommunications Minister Marwan) Hamadeh." Aoun said any cameras on the road to the airport did not a breach of security, pinpointing the Google search engine as the source of any security breaches.
"The road to Bikfaya is full of cameras, and they monitor us on the way up and the way down," Aoun said, alluding to the pro-government Kataeb Party.
Aoun also said the Zahle crime did not meet the requirements to be transferred to the judicial council. In April, a gunman opened fire on a Kataeb gathering in Zahle, killing two Kataeb activists and wounding three others. "The Zahle crime is individual and not political. It happened between two armed persons."
Aoun renewed his critique of the government, saying that the pro-(US-backed) government alliance wanted to turn Lebanese citizens into beggars. The General also said the prominent Lebanese daily An-Nahar had veered away from the ethical principles of journalism. "This paper no longer deserves to be read by anyone, for it is 'March 14' (US backed ruling bloc) propaganda," he added.
Aoun also advised Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butrous Sfeir to refrain from giving advice to his pro-(US-backed) government allies in power.
Aoun, also the head of the Hizbullah-allied Free Patriotic Movement, accused the pro-government alliance of having fled from dialogue when it became a real possibility. "We will not leave the country as it has been for the past three years," he said.
The FPM leader said the government and its supporters intended on disrupting the decree of a new electoral law to ensure the 2009 elections are held using the 2000 electoral law. "What brought us to the vacuum is international plots and internal cooperation," he added. "Anyone - secular or religious - who speaks of presidential elections before the electoral law and participation in government conspires against the Christians and insists on their marginalization." Aoun said the price of the two-third formula was the 11-19 participation formula in the government.
General Aoun said that, while he had hoped Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa would address the ruling team, his faith had waned. "Elections by a simple-majority vote is a coup and will be met with another coup," he stated.
"In 1998, we said that Rafik Hariri was burning the country ... Today, we say that if the same people remain (in power), the economic situation will deteriorate even more," Aoun said. "The crisis lies in the Grand Serail, where the government is."
Aoun said there was an attempt to blur or overlook the general strike planned by the General Workers Union for May 7. "Riots are prohibited, and security forces are responsible for controlling riots, and not preventing protests," Aoun said.
"We appeal to employers and workers to demonstrate on May 7 together for the government which caused the catastrophe in Lebanon to leave," he stated.
