Meetings Intensify to Accelerate Cabinet Formation

Meetings Intensify to Accelerate Cabinet Formation

Readers Number : 52

12/06/2008 Two weeks on the nomination of Fouad Saniora to form the national unity government, bilateral meetings between political leaders from both opposition and loyalty blocs have intensified in an effort to accelerate the formation of the cabinet. Indeed, on Wednesday evening, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri held talks with the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt, while Berri's political advisor, MP Ali Hasan Khalil, was meeting the head of the Future movement MP Saad Hariri at his headquarters in Quoraitem. In the meantime, Saniora's advisor, Mohamad Shatah, held consultations with the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun at the latter's residence in Rabieh to discuss the cabinet line-up. The meeting came after Saniora called up Aoun and discussed the latest developments. Berri and Jumblatt agreed on the need to speed up efforts aimed at forming the new government, stating that forming the new cabinet would "consolidate security." They also reaffirmed their commitment to the path outlined by the Doha agreement signed on May 21 by the representative of the different feuding parties. Berri sources told Lebanese daily As-Safir that the 45-minute meeting was positive, stressing the cabinet must be formed before the beginning of next week. According to As-Safir, Shatah didn't deliver to Aoun a precise and final cabinet distribution, but instead some "preliminary ideas." The daily quoted opposition sources as saying that the suggestions were "positive," but stressed that Aoun, who would really like to cooperate seriously to accelerate the cabinet formation, is conditioning that the opposition demands should be met as a whole to make a breakthrough and advance. JUMBLATT: OBSTACLES FACING CABINET FORMATION NOT POLITICAL Meanwhile, Jumblatt said that the obstacles facing the establishment of the government were procedural, not political. "There is consensus over the settlement reached in Doha and over the fact that the country cannot wait any longer," Jumblatt told As-Safir daily. "But bringing everyone back to the table to discuss the cabinet is not an easy task," he added. Jumblatt hinted that "regional tensions still exist," but added that they "don't create obstacles in the face of implementation of the terms of the Doha accord, "particularly since everybody – inside and outside Lebanon – are tired of the crisis in Lebanon." Jumblatt also noted the need to consolidate and strengthen the presidency by giving President Michel Suleiman an influential share in the cabinet. "But this must be done in a way that will not be interpreted as a confrontation with General Aoun, or in a way in which the majority is monopolizing Christian representation or the presidency," he added. LOYALTY TO THE RESISTANCE: TO CREATE CLIMATE OF CONFIDENCE Earlier on Wednesday, the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc stressed the need to implement the Doha agreement and form a cabinet "as soon as possible," calling for intense efforts to reassure the weary Lebanese. After a meeting headed by MP Mohammad Raad, the bloc pointed out that the government should "bear responsibility for managing national affairs and create a climate of confidence, partnership and stability."