Aoun Criticizes Rice’s Class Room Meeting with March 14 Leaders

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun
on Tuesday criticized U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for
meeting leaders of the March 14 alliance like “students gathered in a
class room.”

Aoun, talking to reporters after a meeting
by members of his Change and Reform Bloc (CRB), also said he would ask
Speaker Nabih Berri to convene Parliament to ratify the election law
adopted during the Doha talks.

CRB members also took note of Rice’s call
for speeding up the Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms and setting up
diplomatic ties with Syria.

“It seems that the Americans have at last adopted our viewpoint,” a smiling Aoun said.

However, he emphasized that “one issue remains vague, that is the issue of naturalizing Palestinians in Lebanon.”

“I learned that Patriarch Sfeir had asked
President George Bush about this issue and Bush replied that the
Palestinians are satisfied (with) Lebanon,” Aoun claimed.

Aoun said he cannot give a “final answer”"
as to when would the cabinet be formed, stressing that he wants to
facilitate efforts to form it.

“We want the best relations with President Suleiman,” Aoun said.
Source:Naharnet