Suleiman Says 'Attacks' on Him a 'Message to Any New President'

Former President Michel Suleiman has accused Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement of launching “campaigns” against him, reiterating that the Baabda Declaration is the solution to the country's crises.

“Where can Hizbullah employ its victory in Lebanon? The solution is to implement the Baabda Declaration, devise a defense strategy and equip the army,” Suleiman said in excerpts of an interview with al-Massira magazine, calling on Hizbullah to immediately withdraw its fighters from Syria, where they are fighting alongside the regime against an Islamist-led revolt.

The Baabda Declaration is the main point of contention between Suleiman and the party. The ex-president has always stressed that the agreement was endorsed by all the parties that attended the June 2012 national dialogue session in Baabda, while Hizbullah has accused the rival camp of violating the charter from the very first day.

The dispute escalated into a war of words between Suleiman and the party, with the ex-president describing the famous army-people-resistance equation as “wooden”, or obsolete.

Hizbullah later hit back by saying that “the tenant of the Baabda Palace no longer differentiates between gold and wood.”

The Baabda Declaration calls for “dissociating Lebanon from the policies of regional and international axes and conflicts and sparing it the negative repercussions of regional tensions and crises.”

Turning to the protracting presidential crisis, Suleiman said the issue is currently “deadlocked,” noting that “there is no breakthrough in the near future.”

He accused the FPM and Hizbullah of launching “campaigns” against him.

“I don't know the reason, knowing that I fought alongside (FPM chief) General (Michel) Aoun” during the 1989-1990 military battles, Suleiman added.

The ex-president left the Baabda Palace on May 25, 2014 as the two aforementioned parties boycotted the farewell ceremony.

Asked about his confrontation with Hizbullah, Suleiman said: “In your opinion, would I accept to be a president without those stances?”

“The attacks on me are not only targeted against me, as they are rather a message to any new president,” Suleiman added.

“The threats are still ongoing and they'll become stronger and they won't stop,” he went on to say.

Suleiman also rejected the notion calling for making the presidential vote a “Christian” issue, putting the blame on Aoun and Hizbullah for “preventing quorum and violating the Constitution in this regard.”

Y.R.

M.T.