Aoun: Our strategic alliance with the Resistance will not change

             
The head of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun stressed on Saturday that the strategic alliance with Hezbollah will not change, noting that there are internal issues concerning which positions must be taken.              

“I do not believe that Hezbollah is directly responsible for the dispute between both parties, and in case it was excluded from the cabinet, we will abstain from participating too,” he said.              

During an interview, Aoun said that he will not comment on the conditions preset by the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam “since they are impossible”, noting that the formation of a new cabinet must not be further delayed.              

On another note, Aoun stressed that the Abra incidents will not be repeated in Tripoli, “because the confrontations in Tripoli erupt between extremists and the LAF, while the main goal is to create strife between the Sunnis and the Shiites,” adding that the latest incidents showed that those who criticized the army are supporting al-Assir.                

On the other hand, Aoun noted that some personnel in the army deserve to lead; stressing that mandate extension brings stagnation to the democratic life. He revealed that the position of the Change and Reform bloc regarding the participation in the next parliamentary session will be determined during the upcoming days.                   

However, Aoun said that his talks with the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri were positive, stating that the latter’s criticism targeting Hezbollah represents the position of his country.                  

On his relation with Speaker Nabih Berri, Aoun said that there are still contacts despite the differences, while his relation with Bkerke is good “as it has always been”, and his relation with President Michel Sleiman is “generally calm”, as he said.