Aoun Wonders Who's Forming Gov't amid Flood of Envoys
Readers Number : 433
01/07/2009 The head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun criticized on Wednesday foreign meddling in Lebanese affairs by pointing to a flurry of diplomatic activity that has been accompanying the government formation process.
"We were unable to identify who was forming the government amid a flood of visits by the US, Saudi and French ambassadors," Aoun told reporters following his bloc's weekly meeting. "We postponed discussions on the matter till next week because we no longer know where the center of gravity is in the formation process," he stressed. "Everything we have read about guarantees and shape-ups is a waste of time," he added.
The General said the Lebanese president's jurisdictions were defined by the constitution and "everything outside that framework is a matter of debate." The president "cannot give guarantees to anyone beyond what is prescribed in the constitution."
He said he planned to nominate deputies from his bloc to the new government and slammed political rivals for "running away" from endorsing a law that separates parliament from cabinet.
Aoun also said a rule not to nominate ministers who lost in the elections as deputies "has been violated."
The Free Patriotic Movement leader said the June 7 polls were "a market for slave trade," noting that he will "challenge the results in places where there is clear evidence" of irregularities.
He voiced "regret" over the loss of life in Sunday's clashes in Aicha Bakkar and in celebratory gunfire following the reelection of Speaker Nabih Berri and the designation of Saad Hariri as premier. Aoun urged party leaders to be "stricter" with partisans in this regard.
Aoun also criticized UN chief Ban Ki-moon for "designating" his 10th report on implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 to Hezbollah weapons arsenal. "As usual, he (Ban) forgot to mention the Shebaa Farms and Israel's repeated aggressions," Aoun said.
On living conditions, Aoun said the high prices of petrol were "no longer acceptable." He added that the finance ministry, not the energy ministry, was in charge of setting the prices.
Readers Number : 433
01/07/2009 The head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun criticized on Wednesday foreign meddling in Lebanese affairs by pointing to a flurry of diplomatic activity that has been accompanying the government formation process.
"We were unable to identify who was forming the government amid a flood of visits by the US, Saudi and French ambassadors," Aoun told reporters following his bloc's weekly meeting. "We postponed discussions on the matter till next week because we no longer know where the center of gravity is in the formation process," he stressed. "Everything we have read about guarantees and shape-ups is a waste of time," he added.
The General said the Lebanese president's jurisdictions were defined by the constitution and "everything outside that framework is a matter of debate." The president "cannot give guarantees to anyone beyond what is prescribed in the constitution."
He said he planned to nominate deputies from his bloc to the new government and slammed political rivals for "running away" from endorsing a law that separates parliament from cabinet.
Aoun also said a rule not to nominate ministers who lost in the elections as deputies "has been violated."
The Free Patriotic Movement leader said the June 7 polls were "a market for slave trade," noting that he will "challenge the results in places where there is clear evidence" of irregularities.
He voiced "regret" over the loss of life in Sunday's clashes in Aicha Bakkar and in celebratory gunfire following the reelection of Speaker Nabih Berri and the designation of Saad Hariri as premier. Aoun urged party leaders to be "stricter" with partisans in this regard.
Aoun also criticized UN chief Ban Ki-moon for "designating" his 10th report on implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 to Hezbollah weapons arsenal. "As usual, he (Ban) forgot to mention the Shebaa Farms and Israel's repeated aggressions," Aoun said.
On living conditions, Aoun said the high prices of petrol were "no longer acceptable." He added that the finance ministry, not the energy ministry, was in charge of setting the prices.
No comments:
Post a Comment