Hezbollah Supports Aoun’s Criticism as “Cry of Pain”

07/09/2010 One day after the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun raised the voice against the current situation in the country, Hezbollah declared solidarity with its ally in its frank ‘cry of pain’.

In a statement he released late Monday, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad Raad expressed support for Aoun’s demands of reform, urging a positive attitude from various Lebanese leaders in dealing with his cry.

“Criticism launched by General Michel Aoun on some issues and practices is in fact a cry of pain issued by an aching official keen to put an end to what could distort the country's image and torpedo plans to revive the system,” Raad said.

He called upon all concerned to deal positively with this call and to give it serious and effective attention in order to tackle the issues calmly and responsibly, and put them on the correct path to strengthen citizens' conviction in the State and make them confident in maintaining their safety, dignity and interests as well as ensuring their rights.

Meanwhile, Aoun has reportedly decided to quit all-party national talks, an MP close to him was quoted as saying by Lebanese daily As-Safir. The mentioned MP said the Free Patriotic Movement leader is likely to announce his decision during the next national dialogue session.

On Sunday, Aoun launched a verbal assault against politicians, including President Michel Sleiman and his ministers, over the lack of productivity in the cabinet and the country. “How would we trust a judiciary which protects the false witnesses? How would we trust a judiciary which doesn’t accomplish its duties, and a government which takes unconstitutional measures?” he wondered in a speech he delivered after attending mass at St. Mikhayel church in Nabey. “What are the ministers doing? Are they sleeping? Why don't they resign?” the Free Patriotic Movement leader went on to ask, before assailing the President himself. “What is the president doing other than crying? He has taken the oath on the constitution and has vowed to preserve it. From now on, we have to see dismissals or resignations.”

But President Michel Sleiman said on Monday that the situation in Lebanon demands people to adopt a sense of responsibility, keep away from verbal disputes, and work on tackling matters with seriousness and calm. “Negativity, putting people down, and crying on regret are unbeneficial and do not build a state,” he pointed out, calling on all those who are working in the public and political sectors “to stay away from the blame game and be above opportunism and instead adopt calm and balanced rhetoric.”

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