Aoun: Miqati Has $5 Billions, Why Doesn’t He Fund STL?

Aoun: Miqati Has $5 Billions, Why Doesn’t He Fund STL? Local Editor Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday renewed on Tuesday his opposition to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, rejecting attempts to fund it. Aoun asked “[Prime Minister Najib] Miqati’s wealth is estimated at $5 billion, so why don’t he and his brother fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” in reference to the issue of Lebanon’s share of funding for the UN-backed Tribunal. Aoun also responded during a press conference following his bloc’s weekly meeting to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s Saturday speech. “We have never mentioned anything about minorities’ alliances, and in our Memorandum of Understanding with Hezbollah we stressed on the importance of a consensual society,” Aoun said, adding that “he does not accept people accusing and spreading rumors against him.”

Aoun also dismissed the US diplomatic cables quoting him that were released by WikiLeaks. “The lies of Future Movement outlets will send them to hell. They are fabricating written cables against us... I’m proud of every word I said about Hezbollah [in WikiLeaks cables]. I did not say anything wrong about Hezbollah.” Addressing the electoral law, Aoun said “I raised questions about the [proposed] Orthodox electoral law [that states citizens vote for candidates of their own sect]… does it enhance social interaction and the progress toward citizenship?” A meeting comprising Maronite leading figures under the auspices of Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai took place on Friday, after which the participants agreed to follow up on the drafting of a new electoral law. Lebanese parties are debating over the electoral law for the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections. After the parliament agreed on drafting a law based on proportional representation, some parties rejected the proposed law and called for adopting the 2009 electoral law, which is based on simple majority representation. Addressing Palestine’s bid to be recognized as an independent state by the United Nations, the MP said: “The U.N. has remained silent over the ongoing crimes committed against the Palestinians.” “They are now demanding to be granted what is left of their land following the 1948 occupation, so why has the international organization not yet recognized the Palestinian state?” Aoun wondered.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian