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| 15/07/2008 The Lebanese national-unity government finally saw light on Friday, paving the way for a new political stage that would build on reconciliation and conformity, the Lebanese hope.
The first challenge seems, however, to be very close. On Wednesday, the cabinet is expected to hold its first meeting and form a committee that would assume the responsibility of formulating the government's plan of action. Once the Policy Statement is inked, the Parliament would convene to discuss it and give the government its vote of confidence. The Constitution gives the government one month to gain confidence; if it doesn't, consultations restart in order to form another government.
Latest events and developments showed that the loyalty and opposition blocs differ widely in handling the various coming issues. Yet, both blocs are ruling out any difference over the Policy Statement, predicting it would be finalized smoothly, given “the prevailing atmosphere of harmony.”
SAYYED SAFIYEDDINE: NO PROBLEM OVER MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
In this context, the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council Sayyed Hashem Safiyeddine said that there was no problem in relation with the Policy Statement, adding that the facts will speak for themselves. He noted that those who failed to obstruct the Doha agreement will not succeed in impeding the government's policies.
Speaking late Monday to Al-Manar TV, Sayyed Safiyeddine said that any Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories would be a victory for the Resistance, noting that Hezbollah’s swap deal with Israel would be an essential element for the government's plan of action. "The Resistance submitted its vision of Lebanon's defense strategy; now it's the turn of other parties to submit theirs," he added.
BERRI EXPECTS PARLIAMENT SESSION NEXT WEEK TO GIVE GOVERNMENT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
For his part, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri ruled out any problems concerning the drafting of the cabinet’s Policy Statement and expressed satisfaction with how the situation in Lebanon is progressing. He also said he expects the parliament to convene in a plenary session next week to give a vote of confidence to the government.
"The establishment of the national-unity government has pushed Lebanon forward and given us hope that we can see solutions to all problems," Berri told the Lebanese daily As-Safir, stressing at the same time the need for cooperation between all parties represented in the government. Berri warned them not to obstruct progress and called for dealing with the country’s economic and social problems as a unified team.
JUMBLATT: SHEBAA FARMS MUST BE LIBERATED EITHER DIPLOMATICALLY OR MILITARILY!
The same logic is adopted by loyalty key figures.
The head of the Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc Walid Jumblatt said he was in favor of relying on the spirit of the previous Policy Statement, taking into consideration that the dossier of the Lebanese detainees in Israel has been closed. "As for the Shebaa Farms, they must be liberated either by diplomatic means or military means," Jumblatt told the Lebanese daily As-Safir.
Jumblatt expressed his belief that the government will reach an agreement over the Resistance. "The fate of Hezbollah’s weapons must be separated from the issues of the detainees and the Shebaa Farms. They must be included in the country’s defense strategy after a quiet and objective examination," he added.
The PSP leader also said the government must consider the need to agree on a formula that will please the residents of South Lebanon and give them guarantees.
GEAGEA SETS PRE-CONDITIONS…AGAIN. AOUN RETORTS
In the middle of this optimism, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea seems to be "combating" alone. On Monday, he sought to put conditions on the Policy Statement, claiming that it should parallel President Michel Suleiman’s inaugural speech, calling on the president to invite Lebanese leaders to the dialogue table after he returns from Paris on Wednesday.
The head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun quickly retorted, saying differences on the Policy Statement were unlikely and stressing the national dialogue wouldn't start before the formed cabinet gains Parliament confidence. |
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