PHALANGE, TASHNAG AGREE TO RESOLVE ISSUES THROUGH DIALOGUE
By Elias Sakr

Daily Star staff
Thursday, October 15, 2009

BEIRUT: The Phalange and the Armenian Tashnag Party said Wednesday
they had opened a new page of cooperation in order to overcome the
upcoming difficult political phase and to preserve Lebanon’s best
interests through dialogue. During a meeting between delegations
of the Tashnag and Phalange parties respectively headed by Hovig
Mekhitarian and Amin Gemayel at the latter’s resident in Bikfaya,
the attendants agreed to form a joint committee to promote cooperation
and resolve disagreements.

"The relation between the Tashnag and the Phalange is positive despite
previously going through a difficult period, but we are currently
planning the future foundations of cooperation," Mekhitarian said.

Mekhitarian added that both parties were aware of the need to tackle
conflicting issues, particularly in the current period of uncertainty
which necessitates dialogue among all Lebanese political forces.

Similarly, Gemayel underscored the positivity that characterized ties
between both parties, adding that they long shared several mutual
interests and principles.

"We hope that this meeting would set the basis for a future phase
of cooperation to rebuild Lebanon’s constitutional institutions
and restore national sovereignty as well as promote democracy,"
Gemayel said.

"We turned the page on the negative past for the best interest of
Lebanon’s youth and its future," he added.

However, when asked if the meeting was a step toward a political
alliance, Gemayel denied the fact, saying that each party adopted a
different political position, and adding that the meeting aimed to
solve controversial issues through dialogue.

Gemayel also stressed his party’s openness toward all other political
forces including the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), "but based on
practical steps."

He added that the Phalange party’s dialogue with the Marada Movement
had recently made some progress.

Tensions between the Tashnag and Phalange parties broke out in 2007
as they traded accusations following the Metn 2007 by-elections.

Gemayel accused the Tashnag of fraud and unacceptable practices while
Mekhitarian described Gemayel’s statements as racist.

The accusations followed the loss by Gemayel in the polls in which
the Armenian vote, dominated by supporters of the opposition-allied
Tashnag party, was seen as playing the role of kingmaker, swinging
the election in favor of FPM candidate Camille Khoury.

Gemayel demanded a rerun in Bourj Hammoud, on account of what he
called voter fraud, adding that nonresidents of the area as well as
deceased had cast votes.