POL-US-LEBANON-AOUN Lebanese MP General Aoun supports disarming Lebanon’s Hizbollah WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (KUNA) — Lebanese MP, General Michel Aoun, said on Tuesday he supports the disarmament of Hizbollah.Aoun, a formerly exiled Lebanese Prime minister who recently returned to his country after Syria’s withdrawal this year, made the remarks at a news conference one day after Hizbollah fighters clashed with Israeli soldiers on the uneasy border between Israel and southern Lebanon, where Hizbollah remains largely supported by the majority Shiite Lebanese there.
"Hizbollah has real backing from Shiites and is a political force, but it is time for them to become part of making Lebanon a great country again," said Aoun, adding that security could be restored in Lebanon by the disarmament of groups outside the central government. At least three Hizbollah fighters were killed by Israeli forces in the most escalated fighting between the two sides since Israel withdrew from Lebanon five years ago. Aoun, who is on a week-long visit to Washington, said he met with members of Congress and US officials at the State Department and National Security Council (NSC) at the White House to "exchange ideas" on issues of interest pertaining to Lebanon and the Middle East.
Aoun said he was happy to celebrate the first Lebanese Independence Day in three decades without the presence of Syrian troops on Lebanese soil.
Marking the day, Aoun said there is much work to do in Lebanon to ensure true democracy without Syrian influence.
Aoun accused the current Lebanese government, still viewed by many as pro-Syrian, of not doing enough to push for true reform or curb the "rampant buying of votes." Despite his skepticism of continued Syrian involvement in Lebanon, Aoun said that relations with Syria could never be severed because of common rights to water, shared borders, economic interests and transit routes.
He said he supports an exchange of embassies with Syria and wants to see a Lebanese embassy in Damascus as well as a Syrian embassy in Beirut. (end) ayt.
