Foreign policy rift exposes FPM-Future discord

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Foreign Ministry's decision to abstain from condemning Iran for meddling in the affairs of Arab countries is further widening the rift between the Future Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement.

In a statement released Friday, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri decried foreign Minister Gebran Bassil's decision to abstain from endorsing a communiqué by the Organization for Islamic Cooperation that condemned Iran for meddling in the affairs of Arab countries and assaulting Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions in Iran.

"By disassociating itself for the second time from a decision taken unanimously by Arab countries and the OIC with the exception of Iran, the Foreign Ministry has now taken sides [with Iran]," Hariri said.

This is the second time in less than a month that Hariri criticizes Bassil, the FPM President and former General Michel Aoun's son-in-law, for his decision to distance Lebanon from the ongoing tensions between Iran and Arab countries mainly Saudi Arabia, Hariri's regional ally.

At an Arab League meeting earlier this month, Arab foreign ministers, with the exception of Bassil, condemned what they called Iran's meddling in Arab affairs.

Bassil, who abstained from voting in favor of the Arab League statement, argued that his country had rejected the statement because it also condemned Hezbollah over alleged interference in Bahrain and its involvement in terrorist activities across the region.

"What did the Lebanese Foreign Ministry distanced itself from this time, especially given that the statement did not mention Lebanon or any other Lebanese political organization? Are we trying to dissociate Lebanon from its Arab identity and bring it closer toward Iran and its expansionist interests?" asked Hariri.

The widening rift between Hariri and Bassil could prove costly for the FPM who is seeking the election of its founder Aoun as president.

Aoun, who enjoys the support of Hezbollah, the country's leading Shiite party, received a major boost for his presidential bid when Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea endorsed the FPM founder's candidacy Monday.

The rapprochement between the two most prominent Christian parties followed Hariri's nomination of Marada Movement Chief Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency, a staunch ally of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, who has long maintained that Aoun is the official March 8 candidate for the presidency, has yet to take an official stance vis-à-vis Geagea's initiative.

Hariri's opposition for Aoun's candidacy means it is unlikely that Parliament will convene if lawmakers from the Future Movement, the major representative of the country's Sunni community, boycott the session.

This growing disagreement between Bassil and Hariri could therefore delay the election of a president.

In an interview with pan-Arab al-Arabiya TV Friday, Geagea said that foreign policy decisions should be discussed within the cabinet where the March 14 coalition is heavily represented.

"The cabinet should convene and adopt a foreign policy rather than leave the matter to discussions between the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister," said Geagea.