An Interview With his excellency
P.M Genaral Michel Aoun.
Conducted by the LBC on September 16/2000

[Question] There has been much talk in and outside Lebanon recently that you will soon return to Lebanon. If you do return, how will you deal with the developments and changes that took place there in the past 10 years?

[Aoun] I know that the date of my return is not far off. I also know that many people, including citizens who have no one to press for their demands, friends, and even those whom we disagreed with one day demand my return. We and those with whom we disagreed used to term each other enemies. Many changes have occurred in Lebanon and more are needed. Anyway, certain measures and initiatives should precede my return in order to show good intentions. We are waiting for these measures and initiatives to happen.

[Question] When you return, you will have to deal with a political system created by the Al-Ta'if "agreement". Will your return indicate your recognition of the Al-Ta'if "agreement" and its results?

[Aoun] We are convinced that the Al -Ta'if "agreement" has been overtaken by events. We are about to propose a plan to restructure the state separating and balancing the state powers. Naturally the change should affect foreign policy and Lebanon's external relations so that these relations will represent the state's, not the sects', relations with the outside world. Moreover, we aspire to a state that will determine its citizens' rights and duties based on the citizens themselves, not their sects.

[Question] General Aoun, elections have been held in Lebanon. Both friends and foes described them as the first ever fair and democratic elections, disregarding the level of participation by various parties. What more do you want?

[Aoun] Absolute freedom and relative neutrality. In the democratic process, what is more important than the government's neutrality is the people's feeling that they are able to express their views and make their choice freely. Such a feeling is still lacking. It is true that some measure of non-intervention in the voting process led to surprising results, but generally pressure continues to exist. Nevertheless, we view positively any measure of freedom that has been made available. Freedom alone can determine the legitimacy of the regime and the decisions it makes.

[Question] Let us talk about what we believe is most important. You are a symbol of the rejection of Syria.

[Aoun, interrupting] Your wording is wrong. I am not a symbol of the rejection of Syria.

[Question] Sorry. Let us say that you are a symbol of the rejection of a particular relationship that a certain Lebanese group set up with Syria. Let us split the question for clarification:
A. Do you support a relationship with Syria?
B. do you support a distinguished relationship with Syria?
C. If your answer is in the affirmative, what are the form, limits, controls, and elements of this distinguished relationship?

[Aoun] I will divide my answer according to your question.
A. Naturally I support a relationship with Syria. No sane politician would reject a relationship between two neighbor countries, such as Syria and Lebanon.
B. I support a distinguished relationship with limits. I support a distinguished relationship based on neighborhood, ties at the people's level, communication among families, and economic ties with both countries complementing each other in terms of their requirements, under which Lebanon would give and take, not just give.Let me ask you. Where is Lebanon located? It is situated between two neighbors. It has no third neighbor other than the sea. These two neighbors are Syria and Israel. With regard to Israel, Lebanon's relations with it will be determined by a peace formula, which international powers and interests will dictate. We will abide by this formula's fair terms and adhere to the unity between the Syrian and Lebanese stands on this formula. In this respect, both Syria and Lebanon have common interests because they face a common danger and challenge. A Lebanese-Israeli peace must not come at the expense of Lebanon and must not divide Lebanon.
As for the relationship with Syria, it is governed and directed by numerous historical, geographical, political, and economic factors. This is in addition to the fact that small countries will not be able to live in seclusion and isolated from the outside world in the future. Therefore, we look to Syria as Lebanon's economic vein just like Lebanon is Syria's and the Arabs' political vein and a destination for freedom and coexistence seekers.
To explain my view, I do not mean that both Syria and Lebanon should interfere in each other's affairs. The people's free will should impose equality between the two countries and help them continue to grow and develop. Ties that are dictated will not last and will go when the dictating parties go. We want to coexist in Lebanon as Lebanese people on equal footing, with no one imposing on us persons to represent us and express our interests.
With regard to our neighbors, namely Syria, we want to be equal and protect each other, not stab one another in the back. Is this not what Syria is afraid that some Lebanese parties may do? We seek sound and viable relations with our neighbor Syria, not affected by the mood of a particular person, by the win or failure of a deputy, or by the coming or going of a president.

[Question] Do you not think that your political vocabulary often went beyond
these nice meanings and signals?

[Aoun] Not at all. My agenda is constant. The point is that I sometimes discuss principles and at other times practices. Since we are discussing principles today, we are talking in a different tone. You cannot ask me to talk in the same tone when the issue has to do with various forms of interference in Lebanon's very internal affairs.I called several times for a national conference to determine the form and future of our relations with Syria and to transform them from personal to national level so that Lebanon's future stand on, and ties with, Syria will be based on Lebanese national, not sectarian, considerations. Of course I mean the kind of ties that exist between two independent countries neighboring each other.

[Question] Do you not think that Syria has nothing to do with much of what is being attributed to it and that some of those who advocate, or benefit from, friendship with Syria are the ones who create situations unpleasant to a certain faction in Lebanon? Let me be more explicit. Do you think that all the political moves in Lebanon are made on Syria's behalf and that they
express the Syrian policy in Lebanon?

[Aoun] This point has to be clarified. The practices that are incompatible with Lebanon's national interests are attributed to Syria, but Syria may be innocent of them. In this case, Syria should clarify the situation and absolve itself of those who use its name to say or do things, which it perhaps does not like. They often threatened us with Syria.

[Question] In his latest statements, [Druze leader] Walid Junblatt stretched his hand to you. He said he would meet you in the middle of the road. Would you reciprocate his move and meet him halfway down the road?

[Aoun] The issue here is not meeting someone midway or at a shorter or longer distance. It has to do with a general national policy on which we might agree or disagree. We agree with many of the views that Mr. Junblatt expressed lately. Therefore, we tell him that for the sake of a united and independent Lebanon where people coexist, we are willing to walk three-quarters, not half, the road. We will stretch our hand to anyone who stretches his to us and will withhold our hand from anyone who withholds his. After all, the issue is not personal or temperamental. In politics there are points of agreement and disagreement, and we agree with Walid Junblatt on many of his views. In particular, we agree on the view that the relationship with Syria will be clearer and more equitable when it has been rectified. On the other hand, ties between the two groups, which share life on the  mountain [reference to the Druze and Christians], should be firmer and stronger than the elements of sedition both now and in the future. We should benefit from lessons of the past.

[Question] Let us return to Lebanon's ties with Syria. In your view, in which areas is the agreement and where do the joint interest lie?

[Aoun] Firstly in the economic sector and secondly in foreign policy. In the economic sector, we can exceed the current dealings because joint interests may cover all aspects of the daily life when they are equal and balanced. With regard to foreign policy, there are various areas where our stands can be identical or close to each other. However, there is a third issue that could be agreed upon or organized through an agreement, the security issue. Syria is fearful of Lebanon being used to conspire against it, but we reject such a role being played by Lebanon. We can coordinate on security between the two countries as is the case  between neighboring countries worldwide so that Syria and Lebanon will not fear each other in this respect. We see no reason for intervention or partnership in areas other than those mentioned above because Lebanon is Lebanon and Syria is Syria. Each is an independent and sovereign country.
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