Meeting between former president Michel Aoun and a Hezbollah delegation in Rabieh on Mar. 7. (Credit: Received by our correspondent Huda Chedid from former President Aoun's media office)
BEIRUT — Following a meeting with former President Michel Aoun at his residence in Rabieh, Hezbollah MP and parliamentary bloc leader Mohammad Raad said that "the existing communication" between Aoun and Hezbollah "will never be interrupted," according to our correspondent Huda Chedid and state-run National News Agency.
Aoun received a Hezbollah delegation headed by Raad which also included MPs Ali Ammar and Hassan Fadlallah.
Aoun, who was the president of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) between 1994 and 2015, signed an agreement with Hezbollah known as the "Mar Mikhael Agreement" in 2006.
However, in recent years, tensions have been mounting between the two parties due to each side's position over the ongoing presidential elections and Hezbollah's close ties to the Amal Movement, a party heavily criticized by the FPM.
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza and the hostilities on the Lebanese-Israeli border, Aoun and Gebran Bassil, his son-in-law and current leader of the FPM have been increasingly critical of Hezbollah over the latter's military operations against Israel in support of Gaza.
Following the meeting, Raad said that 'the existing communication" between Aoun and Hezbollah has "never been interrupted in the past and will never be interrupted." According to Raad, this "brings reassurance and tranquillity to the Lebanese people of all regions and sects."
While speaking about the current hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, Raad said that "this visit was an opportunity to brief Aoun on the exact and objective situation on the ground, away from what is being said here and there."
"Regarding the Lebanese situation, we need to show our good intentions and insist on responsible communication between all groups concerned about this country in order to solve the main issues that we are suffering from," he added.
Commenting on the Gaza war and the events in southern Lebanon, Aoun said on Feb. 19 that Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence belong to its people and cannot under any circumstances be bargained away, even partially. “Translating developments in Gaza and South Lebanon into some kind of presidential bargain runs counter to sovereignty; it would be the biggest loss for the country," he said.
On March 2, Bassil said that he is against a "united front" against Israel, in reference to the so-called axis of resistance of which Hezbollah is part.
Three days later, Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Qassem said that there are "differences of belief and vision" between the party and the FPM, but that "the channels of communication remain open."