Bassil Hails 'Partnership' with al-Mustaqbal, Says FPM Seeking Election of 'Strong' President
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil expressed relief on Tuesday over the ongoing dialogue with al-Mustaqbal Movement, reiterating complete rejection to electing a random president to fill vacancy at the helm of the Christian's most important post.
“We are seeking a fruitful partnership with al-Mustaqbal movement, which must have principles that are ought to be respected,” Bassil said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
He considered that such a partnership should “lead those who are strong to power in order to build a strong country.”
“We are not ashamed to announce that we are seeking to cooperate (with al-Mustaqbal), however, we refuse to be deceived,” Bassil, who is loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and his son-in-law, stressed.
Sources told As Safir newspaper that the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, David Hale, lauded during a meeting with Bassil the dialogue between Aoun and al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri.
The newspaper said that the meeting was held at the residence of a “common friend.”
“Hariri is being honest in dealing with Aoun,” Hale was quoted as saying.
Bassil told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the FPM rejects the election of “any president” only to fill the presidential vacuum.
“We are done with presidents who don't represent us well, we should distinguish between vacuum and electing a head of state who doesn't meet our aspirations,” the minister pointed out.
Lebanon has been plunged into a leadership vacuum after Michel Suleiman's presidential term ended on May 25 with rival political blocs still divided over a new leader.
Over the past two months the parliament convened five times to try to elect a successor to Suleiman but failed during the last five sessions due to a lack of quorum.
Concerning the ongoing cabinet row over the mechanism regulating the government’s work during the ongoing presidential vacuum, Bassil rejected any attempts to monopolize the jurisdictions of the presidency by the cabinet.
As if we're hinting that the role of the president is minor, the minister said.
The cabinet assumes the executive tasks of the president as stated by the constitution until a new head of state is elected.
The presidential vacuum raised fears that it would affect Lebanon's power-sharing agreement under which the president should be a Maronite, the premier a Sunni and the speaker a Shiite.
H.K.
G.K.
17 June 2014, 11:54
23
but but FPMers here said not so long ago that mustaqbal was finished! kaput! out of the game!
i feel sorry for them, all this energy to prove us mustaqbal was finished 3al fadhi!
17 June 2014, 11:55
31
yea right eagledawn
Whatever but the fact remains the same we are a dysfunctional state run by corrupt politicians
17 June 2014, 12:15
21
sure thing coolmec, just a bunch of inefficient mafiosi more interested in their seats and privilèges than in the welfare of the people.... just look at them fighting like a pack of wolves for a seat while lebanese suffer....
17 June 2014, 12:27
21
in a sectarian country like lebanon where posts and status is based on your religion, we get a figment of a man like bassil talking on our behalf.
this county has long been doomed with useless politicians
true is the saying " kama entom, youla 3alikom"
17 June 2014, 13:58
24
Stop this heresy !
Instead of spitting big titles like "STRONG PRESIDENT", tell us what this president should do, what his program and objectives are.
Tell us the names that you have in mind.
This is still a damn democracy and presidents are elected by the people's representatives. Debates must be held and decisions taken in parliament ! Not behind closed doors.
17 June 2014, 14:33
00
its all preparing the way for kahwaji. its a big show from the beginning. boring.....
17 June 2014, 14:39
24
it makes you laugh when M8ers pretend to lecture others while their candidate is supported by dictators...oh M8ers are real stupid people....
18 June 2014, 01:13
01
coz hariri is poor, needs money and aoun owns the oil...
U listen too much to OTV and Wiam Wahabi's BS...
17 June 2014, 14:47
25
@Roar : who exactly is endorsing a murderer ? If you refer to me endorsing Geagea, I have never supported his candidacy in any way. There is no need to revert to lies !
On the other hand, you endorse Hezbollah terrorists which have by far surpassed the sum of crimes commited by Geagea !
17 June 2014, 15:06
24
HA never defended Lebanon, they defended iran interests... so yes they are criminals!
17 June 2014, 15:30
25
sure i hide... if it makes you feel happy then think that...
mad people need only very little to be happy... i am glad i provide you that satisfaction....
17 June 2014, 15:55
23
When exactly did Hezbollah defend anything other than themselves ? Nothing they have done is in the interest of the nation.
If they put the interest of the nation first, they would find a very quick solution and establish a roadmap to disarming Hezbollah or integrating it with the army.
Having a paramilitary (terrorist) organisation is not in the interest of the nation. In fact, it's the main reason Israel has attacked Lebanon in 2006 and Islamists right now ! They are a war magnet ! This is not in our interest at all !
17 June 2014, 19:58
10
HA never defended Lebanon, only its interests... now go and play with the kangouroos....
17 June 2014, 20:43
20
Lol @ cannibals FC gimp and peace of gimp. If it weren't for Hizbollah your cannibal friends would now be in Beirut murdering 15 year olds for improper dress or whipping women into submission. I understand you're angry so just go your cannibal KSA.
18 June 2014, 12:08
00
@IraniParrot : That's what Hassan Nasrallah wants you to believe. He also wants you to believe in boogy bears, the grinch, critters, chucky, gremlins, zombies and that he's the new prophet !
17 June 2014, 15:07
12
This is the Mustaqbel - FPM negotiation. Saad Hariri wants to come back to Lebanon without the threat of assassination hanging over him and wants Aoun to provide him with the guarantee from Assad/Hezbollah.
Aoun wants to be President and needs Saad's support. Saad will support Aoun if Aoun can get the assassination threat lifted.
Problem: Aoun cannot even guarantee his own life if he wins Mustaqbel's support for his candidacy as Hezbollah will assassinate him after they get done doing Saad.
End result: No deal.
17 June 2014, 15:59
22
Roary, Aoun cannot guarantee anything. He is a bought and paid for lacky of the Iranians. Do you really think that KSA considers Aoun to be a principal, a player, rather than just an agent??
The first rule of politics - If you need something from the Organ Grinder, don't waste your time talking to the Monkey.
If Hezbollah wants to change Taef, it will, regardless of Aoun. If Hezbollah wants to kill Aoun, it will kill him and whoever else it needs to kill to keep its hold on Lebanon. Wake up man and smell the coffee.
17 June 2014, 22:00
00
uh, Roary, old boy, you're the guy who used the term "guarantee", not me. I'm using your terms to respond to you. Read my posts, but read yours too.
17 June 2014, 22:01
00
And I don't know who you're married to, but I'm fairly sure that my wife of 32 years won't be stabbing me in my sleep.
