Aoun & Sfeir clashed over Hezbollah’s arms issue during Bkirki meeting

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir have reportedly clashed over the issue of Hezbollah arms during their first meeting in Bkirki in a long time.

The issue of Hezbollah arms has been a source of tension between Sfeir and Aoun. Sfeir said on several occasions that weapons and democracy cannot coexist, just like minority and majority cannot meet in one Cabinet, stances that fueled hot debate with Aoun. Aoun has reportedly defended his “Memorandum of Understanding” with Hezbollah calling it “the best option which has led to shun many problems.”

Aoun also linked Hezbollah weapons to regional developments and highlighted the need for such arms “given the limited capacity of the (Lebanese) army,” al-Hayat has reported