Political details on Cabinet statement expected soon |
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20 November 2009
BEIRUT: The ministerial committee tasked with drafting the policy statement for Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s newly formed government is holding extensive meetings to finalize its mission before Independence Day on November 22. However, the issue of Hizbullah’s arms seems to be the main topic of contention, which is delaying the finalization of the political section of the statement.
Other problematic topics, such as Lebanese-Syrian ties and Palestinian arms inside and outside of camps, have been agreed upon.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the committee’s meeting on Thursday, State Minister for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish said that there was an effort to finalize the ministerial statement “as soon as possible.”
Well-informed ministerial sources told The Daily Star that Thursday’s meeting was expected to lay the final touches on the political section of the statement, while Friday’s meeting will tackle the economic details.
The sources added that Hariri, who heads the committee’s meetings, had insisted the political part of the statement be concluded Thursday.
State Minister Wael Abu Faour said the ministerial statement was incapable of solving all long-term problems in Lebanon, adding that certain controversial issues should be referred to the National Dialogue sessions. He also called on all political forces to be “humble” in order to speed up the drafting of the statement.
Social Affairs Minister Selim Sayegh described the general atmosphere during meetings as “positive.” Echoing Abu Faour, Sayegh said problematic issues ought to be referred to National Dialogue sessions.
Earlier on Thursday, Sayegh called for the ministerial statement to voice support to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, adding that Lebanon should implement the convention and make it part of the country’s law.
In other news, Lebanese Forces (LF) bloc MP Antoine Zahra expressed fears that the issue of abolishing political sectarianism “might lead politicians to overlook a series of controversial issues.”
Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that a “long-term solution” to Lebanon’s problem would be to get rid of political sectarianism.
“We cannot favor this issue over others, because it will give an extremely negative message to the Lebanese, who are scared of … a plan that would lead to one group dominating another in Lebanon or adopting a majority democracy through deception,” Zahra told Al-Sharq radio station Thursday.
The LF lawmaker also welcomed any meeting that would take place between the opposing political parties, praising President Michel Sleiman’s recent efforts to reconcile the Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt and Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday.
Minister of the Displaced Akram Shehayeb said both Jumblatt and Franjieh had a “common wish” to meet.
Shehayeb told Voice of Lebanon radio Thursday that there was a local desire to reach a consensus on most issues, adding that the regional situation has “helped sooth the political atmosphere in the country.”
Jumblatt on Thursday met with a delegation from the Armenian Tashnag Party.
A similar meeting between Jumblatt and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun is also likely to take place soon.
However, talks about a possible meeting between Aoun and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir were unfounded, according to FPM sources.
© Copyright The Daily Star 2009.
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