TASHNAG DOESN’T EXPECT UNDERSTANDING WITH PHALANGE, STRESSES ALLIANCE WITH FPM, MURR

NaharNet
March 23 2009
Lebanon

Tashnag Secretary-General Hovig Mekhitarian said he did not expect
to reach an understanding with the Phalange Party over the Metn
electoral list.

Mekhitarian told As Safir daily in remarks published Monday that his
last meeting with Phalange Party’s central committee coordinator,
Sami Gemayel, did not come up with any electoral result, adding that
he didn’t expect to reach an understanding with the party given the
current political and electoral circumstances.

The Phalange offered a "certain cooperation proposal but … we can
say that there is nothing serious," Mekhitarian said.

"With all my respect to Sheik Sami Gemayel, the possibility of
understanding requires dialogue on a higher level particularly with
(former) President Amin Gemayel," the head of the Armenian party told
As Safir.

He said he was ready to meet with Gemayel if the latter wanted to
visit Mekhitarian.

As Safir also quoted Sami Gemayel as saying that he does "not
understand what prevents the Tashnag from having a good political
relationship with the Phalange."

Asked about what the final decision of the Tashnag would be regarding
Mustaqbal movement MP Saad Hariri’s offer, Mekhitarian said that the
party was awaiting the majority leader’s return from Britain.

"Then we will explain to the people about our viewpoint whether it
is negative or positive," he told As Safir.

Mekhitarian also stressed that his party will stick to its alliance
with Gen. Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement and with MP Michel
Murr.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress