BEIRUT: Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun said he would meet Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea soon in the hopes that the dispute over the presidential election would evaporate.
“Preparations are underway for a meeting,” Aoun said in remarks published Thursday.
Aoun said dialogue, a response to Geagea’s request, not only would focus on the presidential election but other issues as well. He did not elaborate.
"The Lebanese forces are the ones who requested a meeting and Geagea has repeatedly said that we must meet,” he told local daily Al-Akhbar. “We welcome any dialogue and without conditions.”
Aoun said talks with Geagea will take place when the LF leader is back from an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
“If we meet, I will explain what we have to say, because the meeting will alleviate any existing concerns,” he said.
“We prefer to be positive on the Christian issue, because everyone is saying that if Christians agree on the presidency everything will be okay,” Aoun added. “Perhaps the political dispute will evaporate in this meeting.”
On the possibility of agreement on a third presidential candidate, Aoun stressed that "Geagea does not come here to agree on a third person. No one can come to me to tell me I don’t want you.”
“We are working to have a president, a president who enjoys popularity and strong representation in Parliament so that the presidency would be respected and powerful.”
“We believe we have the strongest representation and no one can overstep us ... Also, the majority of Christians support us.”
“But they refuse to acknowledge [this fact] or resort to polls or hold direct election,” Aoun lamented.
"I am a candidate and I’m not willing to give up my vote or withdraw in favor of anyone,” he stressed. “If they want to elect a president without me, let them. I will not approve any president for many reasons. I want a republic and not a president for the republic. I don’t want a republic without the Constitution and laws and without funds and levies and control spending and where corruption manifests.”
Aoun accused his rivals in the March 14 coalition of obstructing the election of a new president.
“Why don’t they agree on me?” he asked. “We have worked together in the government. Don’t they know our decency and history? We are better than ISIS and Nusra Front.”
On his relationship with the Future Movement, Aoun said: “Dialogue has not stopped ... Communication is ongoing between us, but not on the presidential issue.”
Aoun described as “normal” FPM ties with Saudi Arabia.
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