Daily Star – Lebanon
July 11 2008
Tashnak, Murr ‘will run on same slate’ in 2009 legislative elections
Daily Star staff
Friday, July 11, 2008
BEIRUT: MP Hagop Pakradounian, head of Tashnak, the largest Armenian
bloc in Lebanon’s Parliament, underlined the "historic alliance which
dates as far back as 45 years" between his community and powerful Metn
MP Michel Murr following a meeting between the two on Thursday.
Pakradounian said that Tashnak and Murr would be running on the same
slate for seats in the Metn area in the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Concerning the recently tense relations between Murr and Christian
opposition leader MP Michel Aoun Pakradounian said he could not
understand "why people are making a big deal out of this," adding:
"There has never been any rivalry between Murr and Aoun."
Murr and Aoun did not need "intermediaries to solve their
differences," Pakradounian said, "because their relationship is older
than Aoun’s relationship with the Tashnak."
Murr also publicly announced his alliance with the Tashnak for the
2009 polls. The MP added that he had "no major problem" with Aoun.
Murr ended his alliance with the Change and Reform bloc earlier this
year, saying he "always favored middle positions."
"There is no disappointment and thus no need for reconciliation," Murr
said. "I am independent in politics. I am not accustomed to adhering
to parties and I did not leave the bloc to enter another bloc."
Murr added that he had information that a new cabinet would be formed
in the coming 24 hours, but did not rule out that it might take
longer.
On the phone conversation between Lebanese President Michel Sleiman
and Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday, Murr said the move was
"an excellent and important step." – The Daily Star