El Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Frangieh received American ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Sison.

Frangieh stressed that if he receives an invitation from the family of slain PM Rafiq Hariri, he would attend the rally on February 14 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of  Hariri's assassination "unless a certain party decided to take advantage of the invitation to use it for political objectives and own interests."

"We hope that we all gather as Lebanese next to PM Sheikh Saad Hariri, especially that the slain premier Rafiq Hariri belongs to all of the Lebanese, and not to a certain political camp or faction," added Frangieh.

"If a certain party decided to take advantage of the invitation and to use it for political objectives and own interests, seeking to exclude the other party, then we cannot attend in such an atmosphere."

Frangieh added: "Sheikh Saad Hariri does not have to demonstrate his popular influence. If the anniversary tends to become political, we already know March 14 forces' stances although they change every two days, but we have memorized them by heart. We consider that this anniversary should gather all of the Lebanese.

Frangieh cautioned that the celebration should not come across as supporting March 14 principles, since events over the recent past have shown the alliance lacks stability.

Frangieh touched on municipal elections, scheduled to take place in the spring, saying he does not mind adopting a system of proportional representation.

Frangieh called on residents in Beirut to choose their representatives during the elections, adding that all sects should be properly represented.

He also said he supports forming a committee to monitor banks in a preliminary step to other reforms, but he did not elaborate further.

3/2/2010