Bassil meets Samir Geagea in highest-level impasse talks yet

BEIRUT: Free Patriotic Movement minister Gebran Bassil met with Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea late-Monday, amid attempts to broker a meeting between the leaders of each party seen as crucial to ending the country's presidential impasse.

A statement from Geagea’s office Tuesday said he and Bassil, who is Lebanon's foreign minister and the son-in-law of FPM chief Michel Aoun, discussed many issues, including granting Lebanese expatriates dual citizenship.

The two-line statement did not make reference to the anticipated dialogue between Geagea and Aoun, but Bassil is the highest ranking official affiliated with the FPM to visit the LF chief over the months of preliminary talks.

Ibrahim Kanaan, the head of Aoun's parliamentary bloc, had visited Geagea twice in recent weeks to lay the groundwork for dialogue.

The talks are seen as an effort to break the presidential impasse. The country has been without a president since May. Both Aoun and Geagea are candidates, but neither has enough parliamentary support to win.

Aoun said last week that minor progress had been made in the presidential crisis, despite the generally gloomy prospects for ending the deadlock that has left Lebanon without a president for 10 months.

Hezbollah blocking state formation: Samir Geagea

BEIRUT: Hezbollah is preventing the establishment of a Lebanese state, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Sudnay.

“What is disrupting the formation of a state in Lebanon is the presence of Hezbollah as a state within a state,” Geagea told Saudi Arabian Journalist Ahmad Adnan in a Youtube interview published Sunday.

Hezbollah's arms and the "method of its presence" contradict with the notion of a legitimate state, he said.

Geagea said his criticism of the party stems from an objection to policies seen as highly linked to foreign alliances that contradicts with a local vision for Lebanon. “Our relationship with Hezbollah is not based on enmity but opposition,” he added.

“All the Lebanese possess a particular vision of the state, and this is a state based on the Taif agreement, the constitution and the law,” he said.

“No disruptive factor can last indefinitely,” he added in reference to Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Forces leader also cited Hezbollah’s role in disrupting presidential elections, saying that the party’s main backer, Iran, was behind the ten month-long presidential vacuum.

“Either a president fully supportive of [Iran] was [elected] or no elections would be held, and this is what happened,” he said.

The Lebanese Forces chief also noted Iran’s expansion in the region, saying that it had adopted the rhetoric of the Palestinian cause as a means to achieve domination in the Middle East.

Geagea said that although several Arab capitals have been taken over by Iran, it has yet to take any measures against Israel.

"The region cannot accomodate this [Iranian expansion] becaues it will lead to unpredictable repurcussions."

Source:http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Mar-22/291707-hezbollah-blocking-state-formation-geagea.ashx

Iranian regime blocking Lebanon presidential election, Samir Geagea tells UN

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has told the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon that Iran is the only country blocking the presidential election in his country.

He has urged Mrs. Sigrid Kaag to skip Saudi Arabia and head directly to Tehran since Iran is the only country blocking the presidential, An Nahar newspaper reported on Thursday.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag is set to head to Saudi Arabia and Iran with the aim of resolving the presidential stalemate, according to the report.

“I look forward to visit Saudi Arabia and Iran soon,” Kaag told An Nahar.

Lebanese Forces leader also said in an interview published on Sunday that Hezbollah, the Iranian regime’s proxy in Lebanon, is preventing the establishment of a Lebanese state.

“What is disrupting the formation of a state in Lebanon is the presence of Hezbollah as a state within a state.”

Hezbollah's arms and the "method of its presence" contradict with the notion of a legitimate state, he said.

The Lebanese Forces leader also cited Hezbollah’s role in disrupting presidential elections, saying that the party’s main backer, Iran, was behind the ten month-long presidential vacuum.

“Either a president fully supportive of [Iran] was [elected] or no elections would be held, and this is what happened,” he said.

The Lebanese Forces chief also noted Iran’s expansion in the region, saying that it had adopted the rhetoric of the Palestinian cause as a means to achieve domination in the Middle East.

"The region cannot accommodate this [Iranian regime’s expansion] because it will lead to unpredictable repercussions."

Source:https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/iran-world/18108-iranian-regime-blocking-lebanon-presidential-election-geagea-tells-un

Samir Geagea denounces approval of controversial cement factory

BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea denounced Friday the approval by Lebanon's Shura Council of a controversial cement factory in the eastern town of Zahle.

“We call on all the Lebanese, every day, to maintain their trust in the state,” Geagea wrote on his Twitter account Friday. “However, unfortunately, some administrative actions totally undermine Lebanese citizens' confidence in their state.”

Geagea was referring to the “100,000 people living in Zahle and its surroundings” who he said were disappointed by the Shura Council’s preparatory decision to allow for the factory’s construction.

The council made its ruling about the project Thursday, after two appeals against the project’s license were submitted by Zahle’s municipality and its mukhtar.

The project, which was opposed over environmental and public health concerns, belongs to a company owned by Pierre Fattoush, the brother of MP Nicolas Fattoush.

The project started out as a local issue but received national attention in December when more than a dozen gunmen loyal to Pierre Fattoush assaulted an Al-Jadeed reporter and a cameraman as they were wrapping up a report about the plant.

“How can the citizen trust his state if its administration messes with his health and the health of his children, with his environment and with his interests every day?” Geagea tweeted.

“I call on Zahle’s residents to stick to their rights and undertake all the moves that the law allows to protect their city and the future of their children.”

Source:http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Mar-20/291568-geagea-denounces-approval-of-controversial-cement-factory.ashx 

Geagea Urges End to 'Weeping' for the Sake of Christians: They Must Hold on to their Land

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Friday that the situation of Christians in the region is “very difficult.”

He said via Twitter: “The Christians should stop their weeping and hold on to their land.”

“I have never cried over ruins and never liked it because it is a form of self-destruction,” he added.

“We should hold on stronger to our faith and abilities and commit to our land, freedom, and convictions and continue with the confrontation until the very end,” he stressed.

“The situation of Christians in the East is very difficult, but when has it ever been easy?” wondered Geagea.

“The only difference for Christians this time is that they are not sharing this tragedy alone, but Muslims are suffering as well,” tweeted the LF chief.

The developments in the Middle East are “part of a major conflict that has historical and geographic aspects,” he noted.

Thousands of Christians in Syria and Iraq have been forced to flee their homeland to escape the persecution of the Islamic State extremist group. Other minorities have also come under persecution.

“14 آذار” منبصملك بالكرامة…

… وكان الصباح، البوسطة تنتظر على البيدر في ساحة الضيعة، امتلأت الطلبية، معقول أن يكون العدد عشرين فقط؟ يا الله وين هالشباب وين الستات والصبايا؟ قلت لا بأس المهم على الاقل أن نسجّل حضورنا موقفنا مشاركتنا في عرس الايام، ومشت بنا البوسطة محملة بأغانيا وهتافاتنا وتكاد تختفي معالمها تحت الاعلام اللبنانية التي تغمرها وتزينها، ووصلنا، بصعوبة بالغة وسط موج السيارات والبوسطات وصلنا بيروت، نزلت البوسطة الى حيث خصصت أماكن ركن السيارات وأما نحن فبدأنا المسيرة من الاشرفية وكانت البداية. 

دائماً بدايات العز تُرسم وتنطلق من الاشرفية، غريب هذا التاريخ كيف يدور حول نفسه ليذكّر من يحب أن ينسينا بأن لا الزمن ولا الناس ولا الاحداث يمكن أن يمحوا تاريخ أبطال حفروا للناس والمطارح محطات تاريخ هي تاريخهم، الشيخ بشير صباحك أتينا على الموعد يا شب الحلو، وكانت صوره مدروزة في كل مكان والناس تتدفق شلال من كل الاتجاهات. 

وفجأة رأيتهم، شباب وصبايا ضيعتي وستّات أيضاً، حاملون العالم اللبناني وأتون باتجاه مدرسة الحكمة حيث كان التجمّع، انهم هنا لم يتخلّفوا عن نداء الحب والواجب، ضحكت، ارتجف قلبي، شعرت بالفخر، لم أر من كل تلك الحشود بداية الا أهل ضيعتي، هي أنانية الحب هو حب الانتماء بأن يكون من تحب مشاركاً في لحظة حب لا تقارن لوطن لا يقارن رغم كل شيء. 

وبدأ اللقاء العظيم، عشرات الالوف من البشر، قلنا مستحيل أن يزيد العدد، ولما اقترب الظهر كانت حدّة الشمس تلفح نحو مليون لبناني في ساحة واحدة في قلب بيروت، أمر مرعب، نظرت من حولي لم أر أحداً، كان موج من بشر يتحرّك بتلقائية غريبة، اغان صراخ هتاف تلويح تصفيق، جنون الحرية ليس أقل من ذلك، خفت حاولت الابتعاد من وسط المكان لم أجد منفذاً، قلت هذه هي النهاية سأختنق في التدافع بالتأكيد، كانت الاكتاف متلاصقة لكن لم يلمس أحد أحداً الا بالبسمات. 

كان الزعماء يتوالون على الكلام تباعاً، صعد وليد جتبلاط، جُنت الساحة، كلام من عيار ثقيل غير متوقع والحضور يصرخ “ابو تيمور ابو تيمور”… وجاء جبران التويني، كنت نجحت في شق الصفوف لاصل الى ضفة المكان من جهة البحر، كنت أحاول دخول مبنى “النهار” علّني أصل مكتب أخي الصحافي نبيل بو منصف لا تمكن من رؤية كل شيء، ولم أنجح، واذ اسمع ما لم يُسمع يوما في نهج الخطابات السياسية “نقسم بالله العظيم” يا الله هذا صلب الموضوع “أن نبقى موحدين”، جُن المكان، جبران التويني، كان الصراخ وصل ذروته… 

تأثرت ضحكت دمّعت فرحت حزنت و…خفت، لا أعرف مما لكن خفت، وانتهى اليوم العظيم وعدنا الى البيت من نشوة لم نعشها في زمننا، لم نختبرها يوماً، اذ كنا تعوّدنا على الانكسارت منذ اغتيال الشيخ بشير، وفي المساء قالوا في الاخبار “لبنان سطّر اليوم تاريخ عز لا يُمحّى فلأول مرة تجمع ساحة واحدة مسيحيين ومسلمين جاءوا يطالبون بالحرية والسيادة وجلاء الاحتلال السوري عن لبنان”… وصار ما صار… 

عشرة أعوام عبرت، ولم نخرج من الساحة لأن الساحة صارت عند أكثر من مليون لبناني، أكثر بكثير اذ ثمة من انضم لاحقاً اليها، كلام في الشعر تقولون؟ ونقول الشعر ليس أن تلقي أبياتاً مقفّاة انما أن تعيش السطور قلباً واداء، ونحن نعيش “14 آذار”، ليست الثورات تواريخ انتصارت متتالية انما العكس، هزائم متتالية وصولاً الى النصر، سجّلنا أول وأكبر وأهم انتصار، جلاء الاحتلال السوري، محاكمة قتلة قادة ثورة الارز، والاهم الاهم، تعميم ثقافة 14 آذار، يعني ثقافة الحرية الكرامة نهج وطن دستور أرض مستقبل جمهورية… 

لمن يشاء أو من لم يشأ، “14 آذار” خرجت من الساحة لان ساحة واحدة ما عادت تتسع كل هذا المدى، صار الوطن كلّه ساحتها وخصوصاً حيث الابواب مقفلة بوجهها، هناك تحديداً ساحة “14 آذار”، فحيث اللاكرمة نذهب لنعيد الوهج، وحيث اللا انتماء نقتحم لنسترجع بعضاً من حالنا من ضلال الاستعباد، هذه “14 آذار”، بصمة الكرامة، وكل كلام من خارج هذا الاطار هو شعر غير موزون لان ثمة بيتاً ناقصاً، روح الوطن ريح الحب..

THE MAN OF CEDAR: THE THREE LIVES OF SAMIR GEAGEA

FOREWORD

When the belligerents have laid down their weapons, in 1989, after the signing of the Taif national reconciliation document that officially ended the Lebanon war, we believed that it was indeed finished. Whatever the iniquity of its application and the price to be paid, the Taif Agreement allowed us to get out of the spiral of violence to get on with the reconstruction of our lives. Most of us – those who stayed, those who had left, those who were gone and returned, those who belong to parties and those who had never accepted the parties – stored in the depths of our consciousness our resentment and fears hiding a lot of things. We did not ask questions to our parents, and especially, we haven’t told a word to our children. In short, we have all made as if all of this had not taken place, thinking thus definitively to turn the page. Almost all, because during this time, a man was detained and his supporters were in resistance. We have not given the attention it deserved to the story, since he is alone, this “Lord of war” – that is how the press referred to him – personified the dark years that we wanted at all costs to erase of our memories. Happy to be able to travel from North to South a country that we were learning to discover, we, who had grown up with lines of demarcation in our minds, continued to live like if the wall of silence of Syrian guardianship was almost a normal consequence of this peace torn at the price of so many renunciations.

Eleven years later, in 2005, following the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri, we found ourselves on Martyrs square: three generations of Lebanese, all faiths together, gray or black hair, surprised teenagers and grandparents a little weak but determined, waving flags and banners, chanting slogans that would have been unthinkable to barely pronounce a few days earlier. Now that our country’s sovereignty was restored, politics invented again our lives. Our leaders, even the most zealous of the pm-Syrians, seemed to be in their right mind and called the population to unite beyond sectarian and ideological divisions in “living together” which augured full of optimism for the future. In the wake of this “revolution”, Samir Geagea, the man who missed the call the first days of the spring of Beirut, is finally out of darkness. He has changed a lot, it was said. This event, far from destroying him, would have made him not only stronger, but also more conciliatory and more human. Surrounded by a halo of mystery, he returned to the political scene along with former warlords, sons of political families and other vital players in the history of our country.

And then years have passed, the euphoria of the early days gave way to compromises, defections and changes of opinion. The disappointments were often bitter, but his commitment has not diminished. While some, who have neither managed to overcome their resentments nor to hunt the ghosts of the past, continue to denigrate his speech and his career, many others are attracted by the strength of his convictions as his capacity to resist, and openly adhere to his political line. Others again, without so far rejecting the latter, temper their approval by a constant reminder of his past.

Today, while the history seems to be repeating itself and the issues left open yesterday come back to haunt us, I felt it necessary to understand what really happened during these dark years experienced by the Lebanon. Only Samir Geagea could embody this troubled era marked by violence, blood and humiliation, certainly, but also by acts of heroism and small victories driven from destiny.

When I started writing this book, we said little about the chief of the Lebanese Forces. It was several months before the story propels him to the front of the stage. He loaned to interviews with the application that characterizes, engaged at the beginning with some reluctance. He did not want to be, once more, the only one among the protagonists having to justify a military and political course in the urgency of the war. Only history, according to him, would be able to put things in their right place because of his action and the one of the Lebanese Forces. Then, as the reserves have dissipated, he spoke with increasing frankness without however this biography being  “authorized” in the usual sense of the term, as Samir Geagea made no prerequisite and not read – much less approved or amended – the text before publication. It is sincere appreciation here for this vote of confidence that he honors.

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L’HOMME DE CÈDRE: LES TROIS VIES DE SAMIR GEAGEA

Préface

Lorsque les belligérants ont déposé leurs armes, en 1989, après la signature du document d’entente nationale à Taëf qui mettait officiellement fin à la guerre du Liban, nous nous sommes convaincus que celle-ci était bel et bien finie. Quels qu’eussent été l’iniquité de son application et le prix à payer, l’accord de Taëf nous permit de sortir de la spirale de la violence pour nous atteler à la reconstruction de nos vies. La plupart d’entre nous – ceux qui étaient restés, ceux qui étaient partis, ceux qui étaient partis et revenus, ceux qui appartenaient à des partis et ceux qui n’avaient jamais accepté les partis pris – avons remisé au plus profond de notre conscience nos rancœurs et nos peurs occulté un grand nombre de choses. Nous n’avons pas posé de questions à nos parents, et surtout, nous n’avons rien raconté à nos enfants. Bref, nous avons tous fait comme si tout cela n’avait pas eu lieu, pensant ainsi tourner définitivement la page. Presque tous, car, pendant ce temps, un homme entrait en détention et ses partisans en résistance. Nous n’avons pas accordé l’attention qu’elle méritait à la nouvelle, car à lui seul, ce «seigneur dc la guerre» – C’est ainsi que la presse le désignait – incarnait les années noires que nous voulions à tout prix effacer de nos mémoires. Heureux de pouvoir sillonner du Nord au Sud un pays que nous apprenions à découvrir, nous qui avions grandi avec des lignes de démarcation dans nos esprits, nous avons continué à vivre comme si la chape de plomb de la tutelle syrienne était une conséquence quasi normale de cette paix arrachée au prix de tant de renoncements.

Onze ans plus tard, en 2005, à la suite de l’assassinat du premier ministre Rafic Hariri, nous nous sommes retrouvés sur la place des Martyrs : trois générations de Libanais, toutes confessions confondues, têtes noires et grisonnantes, enfants sur les épaules, adolescents étonnés et grands-parents un peu chancelants mais tout aussi déterminés, agitant des drapeaux et des banderoles, scandant des slogans qu’il aurait été impensable de prononcer à peine quelques jours auparavant. Maintenant que la souveraineté de notre pays était restaurée, la politique réinvestissait à nouveau nos vies. Nos dirigeants, même les plus zélés des pm-Syriens, semblaient avoir retrouvé raison et appelaient la population à s’unir au-delà des clivages confessionnels et idéologiques, dans un « vivre-ensemble » qui augurait des lendemains pleins d’optimisme. Dans le sillage de cette « révolution », Samir Geagea, l’homme qui manquait à l’appel aux premiers jours du printemps de Beyrouth, est enfin sorti des ténèbres. Il a beaucoup changé, disait-on. Cette épreuve, loin de le détruire, l’aurait rendu non seulement plus fort, mais aussi plus conciliant et plus humain. Entouré d’un halo de mystère, il est revenu sur la scène politique aux côtés d’anciens chefs de guerre, de fils de familles politiques et autres acteurs incontournables de l’histoire de notre pays.

Et puis les années ont passé, l’euphorie des premiers temps a laissé place à des compromis, à des défections et à des retournements de veste. Les déceptions furent souvent amères, mais son engagement à lui n’a pas faibli. Tandis que certains, qui n’ont pas réussi à surmonter leur ressentiment ni à chasser les fantômes du passé, continuent de dénigrer son discours comme son parcours, beaucoup d’autres sont séduits par la solidité de ses convictions comme par sa capacité de résistance, et adhèrent ouvertement à sa ligne politique. D’autres encore, sans pour autant rejeter cette dernière, tempèrent leur approbation par un rappel constant de son passé.

Aujourd’hui, alors que l’Histoire semble se répéter et que les questions laissées hier en suspens reviennent nous hanter, j’ai éprouvé le besoin de comprendre ce qui s’est vraiment passé durant ces années noires qu’a vécues le Liban. Personne mieux que Samir Geagea ne pouvait incarner cette époque trouble marquée par la violence, le sang et les humiliations, certes, mais aussi par des actes d’héroïsme et par de petites victoires arrachées au destin.

Lorsque j’ai commencé la rédaction dc cet ouvrage, on parlait peu du chef des Forces libanaises. C’était plusieurs mois avant que l’actualité ne le propulse sur le devant de la scène. Il s’est prêté aux entretiens avec l’application qui le caractérise, se livrant au début avec quelque réticence. Il ne voulait pas être, une fois de plus, le seul parmi les protagonistes à devoir justifier un parcours militaire et politique accompli dans l’urgence de la guerre. Seule l’Histoire, selon lui, serait capable de rendre leur juste place à son action et à celle des Forces libanaises. Puis, au fur et à mesure que ses réserves se dissipaient, il a parlé avec une franchise croissante sans que pour autant cette biographie ne soit  « autorisée » au sens habituel de ce terme, car Samir Geagea n’a formulé aucune exigence préalable et n’a pas relu, et encore moins approuvé ou modifié, ce texte avant publication. Qu’il soit sincèrement remercié ici de cette marque de confiance qui l’honore.

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Michel Aoun 'optimistic' about dialogue with Samir Geagea

BEIRUT: Reflecting on progress made towards the anticipated dialogue with Christian arch foe Samir Geagea, MP Michel AounWednesday was quick to acknowledge challenges, but expressed optimism about overcoming them.

"I am optimistic about dialogue with the Lebanese Forces, but there are difficulties that we need time to discuss,” Aoun told local newspaper Al-Akhbar.

Aoun acknowledged he had made some concessions to Samir Geagea, saying: “We are facing a national crisis. I [make concessions] in order to get out of the crisis.”

“I did not only offer an opportunity to Geagea alone. I have given reunion many chances. There are those who remain, and those who do not complete the road.”

“The presidency is not in his pocket," Aoun said. “Either Geagea or me, but he may have luck to become president.”

Geagea has said that Lebanon should not expect a "love story" to arise from the ongoing rapprochement between him and Aoun, whose relationship is marked by 30 years of conflict.

“Like all love stories, [it is about] a gaze, a smile, a date then a meeting,” the Lebanese Forces leader said last week on his anticipated dialogue with Aoun. “We are still in the gaze and smile stage.”

Lebanese Politicians Unable to Elect President

Unlike the determination with which the Army thwarts Jidahist attempts to enter the territory from Syria, Lebanese politicians today continue unable to make regional decisions that prevent them to elect the country''s president.

Lebanon has been with no head of State for about ten months and everyting shows that it could turn a year with the vacancy, based on the poor progres in that matter, considered by the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc leader, retired Gen. Michel Aoun.

According to the politician linked to the Hezbollah Resistance Movement in the March 8 lesglative alliance, negotiations with the rival Lebanese Forces, led by Samir Geagea, are moving slowly. Michel Aoun and Samir Geagea are both running for the presidential post.

Geagea is the presidential candidate from the March 14 coalition, led by the Mustaqbal movement of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, but it faces the objection of Hezbollah, who supports Aoun as alternative, who is also chief of the Free Patritiotic Current.

The two presidential candidates are maronite Christians, the religious community from which the head of State must come, while the Parliament Presidency will be assumed by a Shia Muslim, and a Sunni for the prime minister post.

جعجع: أؤكد للجميع أننا كلّنا في خدمة أهالي العاقورة

المكتب الاعلامي لرئيس حزب “القوات اللبنانية” سمير جعجع:

استقبل رئيس حزب “القوات اللبنانية” سمير جعجع في معراب وفداً من أهالي بلدة العاقورة، في حضور منسق منطقة جبيل في “القوات” شربل أبي عقل. وبحث المجتمعون في شؤون البلدة الانمائية.

وعقب اللقاء، قال جعجع: “لقد تداولنا مطولاً مع فعاليات وشخصيات العاقورة كافة ببعض الأمور التي تخص البلدة والتي طُرحت في الأشهر الأخيرة، وأنا اليوم أؤكد للجميع أننا كلّنا في خدمة أهالي العاقورة، لسنا مع فريق ضد آخر، نحن مع المصلحة العامة للبلدة، ولو أن كلَّ شخص يُفسر هذه المصلحة العامة وفق مفهومه، ولكن هذا لا يمنع أننا متفقون على المفهوم العام”.

وأضاف: “ان مقياسنا هو القانون والدستور وبالتالي أي قضية تُطرح سنتابعها وفق القوانين المرعية الإجراء، وسنكمل المسيرة سوياً مع أهالي العاقورة، لقد ولّت الأيام التي كان فيها بعضُ الفرقاء من خارج المنطقة يتلاعبون بوضع العاقورة، فهذه البلدة متماسكة وسننتظر نتائج العملية القانونية التي نُعلن جميعنا قبولنا بها”.

من جهة أخرى، التقى جعجع خادم رعية مار شربل – أنفه الأب شارلي عبد الله على رأس وفد، في حضور منسق منطقة الكورة في القوات أديب غانم ومنسق الشؤون الكنسية في الحزب المهندس جان العلم. وقد عرض المجتمعون شؤوناً راعوية وكنسية.

No solution to presidential crisis: Samir Geagea

BEIRUT: The presidential election crisis continues with no solution in sight, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said in remarks published Wednesday.

“Personally, I don’t see any way out [of the crisis] now,” Geagea said in a chat with journalists Tuesday.

“Previously, Tehran was the one that proposed French presidential envoy Jean-Francois Girault’s intervention and after extensive contacts, he was told that Hezbollah has committed its support for Gen. Michel Aoun, and they can’t do anything,” Samir Geagea said.

Nevertheless, Samir Geagea emphasized his willingness to continue to support an anticipated dialogue with his Christian arch foe Aoun even if talks did not yield any fruit.

“I insist to carry on dialogue with Aoun no matter what,” he said.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since May 2014, when former President Michel Sleiman left office at the end of his six-year term. Disagreement over a successor has kept vacant the state’s post which is reserved to Maronite Christians under Lebanon’s sectarian political system.

The imminent talks between Geagea and Aoun aim to achieve Christian rapprochement to end the presidential election impasse.

Samir Geagea and Aoun will not quit the presidential race despite the much-awaited dialogue between the two rivals, Lebanese Forces spokesman Melhem Riachi has said.

جعجع يشيد بالبيان المشترك الصادر عن لقاء السيسي مع عاهل الأردن

أشاد رئيس "حزب القوات اللبنانية" سمير جعجع بالبيان المشترك، الذي صدر عقب لقاء الرئيس المشير عبد الفتاح السيسي مع

العاهل الأردني الملك عبدالله الثاني في القاهرة.

ونوه جعجع بما ورد في البيان "خاصة فيما يتعلق بضرورة تكاتف الجهود العربية والدولية للتعامل بكل حزم مع خطر التطرف والإرهاب وتنظيماته، وأهمية تصويب الصورة السائدة عن الإسلام، وإظهاره بطبيعته السمحة.. فضلًا عن ضرورة إيجاد حلول سلمية للأزمات المشتعلة في ليبيا والعراق وسوريا؛ للحفاظ على سلامة شعوبها، ووحدة أراضي تلك الدول".

ورأى رئيس حزب القوات اللبنانية - في بيان اليوم - أن "الإرهاب يضرب في كل مكان المسلمين والمسيحيين وكل مكونات المجتمعات العربية على حد سواء دون تمييز".

وشدد على أن "مكافحة الإرهاب ليست مسألة عسكرية أو أمنية فقط، لذا يجب خوضها على المستوى الفكري والثقافي والإعلامي والديني"، داعيا الدول العربية كافة إلى "الاستنفار والتعامل بحزم مع آفة الإرهاب".