Tuesday June 9, 1998 Aoun: "I found myself alone in the battle" General Michel Aoun confirmed yesterday that the "National Gathering" (Rassemblement National) has been conceived on the basis of electoral alliance. "Anyway, we are not in disagreement when it comes to the liberation of our country." He said during the press conference he held in Sydney where he is actually touring along with wife and daughter Chantal. Commenting on the recent municipality elections, the ex-prime minister however sensed "a contradiction" on the opposition side. "I wonder how a person who is an ally to the present government can join the opposition on the national level" he said, and added "I refused to play this game, and I stayed with the opposition, only to find myself later alone in the electoral battle of Beirut." Nevertheless, according to the ex-prime minister, the participation of his people in the municipality elections does not mean their participation in the coming legislative election; " because, he explained, the municipality election is merely an administrative and local procedure without any political relation. Therefore it does not give any legitimacy to the government now in power." He also added:" the present circumstances do not allow us to participate in the legislative election because we know ahead that the results will be falsified." On other issue, General Aoun affirmed that coming to Australia was for a specific reason, and that was to demand the application of the 425, 426 and 520 UN resolutions, that would require all the foreign armed forces to withdraw from Lebanon. "Nowadays Israel approves the 425 and 426 UN resolutions and is trying to apply them, whereas Syria refuses categorically to do the same, followed by that by the Lebanese authorities" he said. Answering a question of an eventual coalition of all the opposition, General Aoun said:" do the Lebanese Forces (FL) really want to adhere to the oppositon? They welcomed the TAEF agreement and by that started the armed confrontation. Today, the FL are the allies of Hariri in Beirut; and consequently represented in his list." He then asked himself:" What did this government accomplish to Lebanon? It built a bridge that cost 30 million of dollars whereas it effectively should have cost 3 million to achieve. Lebanon is drowning under its debts and we are not able anymore to pay back the interest on the money borrowed. (…) If people are able to meet ends in Lebanon nowadays, it is because they are selling their lands and estates" affirmed General Aoun. From a pacific resistance towards a military resistance. On another hand, the ex-Prime Minister who hopes that a pacific resistance will do the job, says that the thought of a military resistance is not completely excluded. "The resistance will become armed when the conditions will become favorable", "we are resisting today in a peaceful manner, because the international and local controlling factors are favorable to us, and we are stressing on the application of the UN resolutions that concern us. But with time, it is probable that we may have recurrence to armed struggle. To a question regarding his refusal to go back home to Lebanon, he said: "my returning back is not possible at the moment, because a government among which are 3 ministers who tried to assassinate me is not an ultimate guarantee for my wellbeing." Finally, General Aoun estimated that the Israeli proposal of retreat from Lebanon was serious. (L'ORIENT-LE-JOUR) At noon on Monday 8 June, the Catholic, Monsignor Issam Darwish, offered a large banquet honoring Prime Minister General Michel Aoun, in the patriarchal estate in the suburbs of Greenacre. Were present at this event the following: the Greek Orthodox Monsignor Jibran Ramalawi, father Aziz Azzi and father Joseph Wakim from the Mar Charbel monastery, father Zaki Zeytoun manager of the syriaque orthodox church, along with the head of the community. Monsignor Darwish welcomed his valued guest, considering him a true Christian actively working for peace, and wished him a successful stay. General Michel Aoun thanked his host, and made a point of the important role Catholics play in Lebanon and the region. He finished his speech by stressing the importance of sovereignty, freedom and independence that should reign all over Lebanon and the Lebanese people. COPYRIGHT FREE LEBANON 1998. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED