Change and Reform MP Youssef Khalil told Al-Manar Website that General Michel Aoun is a dialogue man, and rejected Arab interefernce in Dialogue as they didn’t have a unified stance regarding the situation in Lebanon.

MP Youssef Khalil to Al-Manar Website:
March 14 Rhetoric Political; Aoun Dialogue Man
Setting Preconditions for Dialogue Obstructs Process
Dialogue Not Magical Tool… Yet, It Is Very Useful
Arab States Have No Unified Stance towards Lebanon
Aoun Did Not Promise; Patriarch Rahi Did Not Demand
Reports of Conflicts over Appointments Not Accurate
Government Facing Historic Challenge… But Will Succeed

Member of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc in Lebanon MP Youssef Khalil declared his support for the call made by President Michel Sleiman to re-vivify the national dialogue table.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Khalil said that dialogue was very useful, even if it took some time. He found strange the preconditions set by the March 14 forces to take part in the dialogue process, and expressed belief that such rhetoric is political. He also questioned the usefulness of the participation of the Arab League in a Lebanese dialogue, noting at the same time that Arab states have no unified stance towards the Lebanese issue.

Khalil denied leaks about conflicts between the Free Patriotic Movement and its allies in the government over appointments. He also denied claims that FPM leader MP Michel Aoun has promised Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rahi that the General Security Chief post would be restored to Christians.

He said the government should succeed in its mission, and expressed belief that success in such sensitive circumstances was an honor.

Dialogue Must Be Responsible

MP Youssef Khalil told Al-Manar Website that participation in the national dialogue table was self-evident. He said that he personally believes national dialogue is very useful and beneficial, even if it took some time. He pointed, however, that dialogue was not a magical tool that could suddenly solve all issues.

He spoke of some ‘conditions’ for the dialogue to succeed. “These conditions might include the necessity to put a time frame for the dialogue, and to offer guarantees that the dialogue be based on logic and responsible behavior,” he said. In this context, he found strange how some parties want to reach a resolution of dissolving the Resistance’s weapons. “Dealing with such a sensitive and delicate issue must be responsible, given that the Resistance concerns the whole nation,” he added.

Khalil said that the Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun could not be against dialogue in principle. “MP Michel Aoun is the dialogue man number one,” he said. He also revealed that General Aoun was always ready for launching dialogue with all factions, stressing the need to give a national aspect for the dialogue, instead of political considerations.

‘MARCH 14’ RHETORIC BASELESS

Member of the Change and Reform bloc in the Lebanese parliament distinguished between Aoun’s conditions for dialogue, which seek to facilitate dialogue, and those set by the other bloc aimed at obstructing the whole process. 

Khalil pointed in this context to the announcement made by the March 14 forces that their participation in the dialogue hinges on putting the Resistance’s arms under the control of the state within a certain timeframe, alongside Hezbollah’s approval, before the dialogue launch. He found strange such rhetoric, and called on all parties to propose logical solutions for discussion at the dialogue table at all levels, including the political, economic and social ones.

In conclusion, Khalil said that March 14’s rhetoric was not only political but also baseless. He noted that whoever sets preconditions on dialogue does not possess the sufficient courage to discuss things in depth.

The Lebanese lawmaker did not find any problem in the relation between the state and the Resistance, speaking of a kind of “integration” between both of them. However, he expressed openness and urged the March 14 forces to present their plan for objective, scientific discussion. “We don’t want to shift from the Resistance status to the incomplete peace status,” he stressed. “Let everyone assume its duties. We won’t accept that our dignity is not preserved anymore.”

Khalil also commented on March 14 forces’ condition that the Arab League takes part in the dialogue. He said that, in principle, there’s no problem with such participation. However, he added: “When the dialogue focuses on Lebanon, we’re supposed to resolve our issues as Lebanese without resorting to foreigners, with all our respect to Arabs who have helped us many times. Even more, Arab states have no unified stance towards the Lebanese cause, given that they have not experienced our tragedy and they have not lived under occupation from a fierce enemy.”

ALLY REMAINS ALLY, BROTHER

Turning to the ministerial issue, Khalil pointed to the cabinet’s recent agreement on various appointments in state positions. He denied all leaks about conflicts among allies over the appointments, and mainly over the sect of the General Security Chief. He noted that the FPM leader has frankly declared that there was absolutely no problem at all between him and his allies at the level of any name or post. “Anyway, the ally remains an ally and a brother,” Khalil said, as he stressed the necessity to respect the sectarian distributions, given that some Lebanese imagine conflicts and then believe themselves.

Khalil also denied claims that MP Michel Aoun has promised Patriarch Beshara Rahi that the post of the General Security Chief would be restored to Christians. “General Aoun does not promise anybody of anything which is also related to the others’ decisions and beliefs,” he explained. He expressed belief that Rahi himself did not demand any guarantees or promises from Aoun, as the Patriarch adopts a general policy related to the rights of all sects. “The Patriarch wants that all factions representing the Lebanese society feel they are partners in the rule, in a sense or another.”

THERE’S NO WAY GOVERNMENT COULD FAIL

To conclude, Khalil admitted that the Lebanese government, headed by Prime Minister Najib Miqati, was facing a historic challenge as its constituents, mainly the FPM and Hezbollah, are famous for their seriousness, struggle and Jihad. “Such parties did not enter the government to fail,” he asserted.

The Lebanese lawmaker, meanwhile, stressed that the social issues should be given the absolute priority. He expressed belief that the government could not fail in guaranteeing social security for all Lebanese as well as resolving the problems of optional security. “Otherwise, we will witness a dangerous precedent. However, I only see success for the government,” he said.

Khalil did not believe the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was threatening the government. He said that the government respects the international law, but will not accept that an international force would be a reason for an internal conflict in Lebanon. He said that the indictment in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri’s case was not the end of the world.

While believing that the opposition would seek to topple the government and may resort to all possible and legitimate means to achieve this goal, he said that the government would have the honor to succeed in such delicate and sensitive circumstances. “This is the real challenge, and I believe the government will overcome it,” he declared. “There’s no way the government could fail in this mission. I can’t imagine that people who spent their lives in Jihad and struggle could enter the government to simply fail.”