Aoun Dismisses Gemayel and Geagea’s Pessimism: We Want STL’s Justice
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stated on Tuesday that the new government will not enter into a confrontation with the international community.
He said after the movement’s weekly meeting: “We want the justice of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and we respect United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.”
“We will see in time what will happen regarding the tribunal’s rules and procedures,” he added.
On Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s lament of the new government, the MP remarked: “I can’t do anything about the others’ pessimism.”
Commenting on the United States’ position on the new government, Aoun said: “None of our actions indicate that we will are seeking revenge.”
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Monday after the formation of the new Cabinet: “What's important in our mind is that the new Lebanese government abides by the Lebanese constitution, that it renounces violence, including efforts to exact retribution against former government officials, and lives up to all its international obligations.”
Asked about the lack of women ministers in the new government, Aoun replied: “We want women to take part in political life … and she should become more involved in it.”
“I am the only politician who enjoys great popularity among the female population and the elections demonstrate that,” he added.
“My family is mainly comprised of women and therefore it’s normal for me to want to help women,” he stressed.
The FPM meeting also addressed financial reforms and the need to hold passed presidents and ministers accountable for squandering public funds.
Earlier on Tuesday, Aoun thanked Speaker Nabih Berri for facilitating the formation of the new cabinet after giving up a Shiite share in favor of Sunnis.
“We thank Speaker Berri for sacrificing a ministerial seat but we hold reservations on its recurrence in the future,” Aoun said after holding talks with the ten ministers of the Change and Reform bloc in the government.
“What awaits our ministers is not a simple task,” the FPM chief said in a brief press conference he held in Rabiyeh.
The ministers will be in charge of dealing with more than 20 years of corruption and accumulated problems, Aoun told reporters before taking the official photo along with his bloc’s ministers.
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