President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, told on Sunday Al Ahram newspaper that Lebanese-Egyptian relations were good, stressing that bilateral cooperation in all sectors is welcomed by both countries.
President Aoun’s words came during an interview published today with the editor in Chief of Al Ahram, Mohammad Abdel Hadi Allam, tackling various topics of mutual interest.
Aoun said that Lebanon and Egypt, like other countries, were facing a common problem, notably terrorism which was targeting the world over, deeming it as an evil disease.
He underscored the necessity to fight this phenomenon, noting that the war against it now despite its harshness would be much easier than in the coming phase.
“This requires follow-up and coordination between all security agencies in Arab countries,” he added.
The President went on to express his fear of a future infiltration of terrorism into military units, which were combatting sleeping cells in Arab societies and elsewhere.
“We, in Lebanon, face political divisions but we have never passed through crises regarding religious ideology because we are a country of dialogue and we were taught to respect freedoms of belief and opinion,” he said, adding that Lebanon “can be a model of coexistence” after the current extremist phase in the world has passed.
He pointed out that he and his Egyptian counterpart were able to reach consensus, due to the fact that they both came from a military background and were soldiers who could talk openly and amicably.
On the issue of Hezbollah, President Michel Aoun said that it constituted a large strata in Lebanon and a central part of the country’s southern population, “its members were not mercenaries, like the ones who flocked in to Syria from all corners of the world, but Lebanese people defending their livelihoods and properties even if they received help from others.”
“We cannot be with Israel against a faction of our people. For me, the Lebanese house is not a Shiite one neither is the Lebanese territory, it is in fact a Lebanese space for everyone.”
On the current Arab division, the Lebanese President underscored that the situation was mysterious, “there are wrestling interests between major countries, and no longer with small players.”
He called for the necessity to consider the revival of the Arab League a priority during the upcoming Arab summit, because it has been paralyzed for a while.
On the relation with Iran and Turkey, he said that they were neighboring countries; thus, excellent relations should be maintained because there were common interests between neighboring states.
On the situation in Syria, Aoun said that the solution could only be a political one because domestic problems should end with compromise.
“Our Lebanese experience in this regard is well before the Syrian one; it dates back to the seventies of the last century. It was very painful for us due to its results,” he pointed out, saying that dialogue and reform transformed the country from one stage to another.
On the Palestinian repatriation, he said that “our position was clear, namely defending the return of Palestinian refugees and the recognition of a Palestinian nation.”
“Israel wants to abolish the Palestinian identity and territory, considering who remained in Palestine not owners of lands and identity but only inhabitants; this is a threat to Arabs and Islam itself.”
On his stance from US President Donald Trump, Aoun said that it was hard to understand Trump, “you cannot distinguish between the populist electoral rhetoric and the US reality.”
“The best thing to do is to expect and to work on strengthening internal national unity as much as we can and not be linked to foreign policy.”
Touching on the Lebanese parliamentary elections, the President said that refraining from adopting a new law drove the country into the unknown and it was unacceptable to have an elected parliament extending its mandate twice, otherwise it would be a state of ownership and not democracy.
“We want fair representation as stipulated in the Taif Accord, a representation that takes into account coexistence.”
Aoun assured that there was no dispute with House Speaker Nabih Berri, but rather a difference of opinion at times, which was normal in democratic practices.
The President, in conclusion, assessed the first 100 days of his presidency, saying that the Lebanese situation was marked by difficulties, different from those of other countries, and a legacy requiring rectifications.
“I am a reformer, one of those who want to introduce reforms to the method of governance and the approach to public affairs, through the application of the Constitution and laws.”
“The habit of transgressing the Constitution and the law must cease,” he concluded.
