20 August 2008

BEIRUT: The country's top politicians engaged in tense debate on Tuesday over the two controversial issues of military appointments and the upcoming national dialogue sessions to be chaired by President Michel Sleiman.

Head of the Democratic Gathering bloc MP Walid Jumblatt held a late night meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri after he had met earlier on Tuesday with Defense Minister Elias Murr. Well-informed sources told New TV that the two discussed "in detail" the issue of military appointments.

Following the meeting, Jumblatt called for resorting to "calm and peaceful dialogue" when discussing controversial issues.

"The discussion over military appointments is so far tense," Jumblatt said, adding that this was "an unhealthy sign."

Asked about his relationship with Hizbullah, Jumblatt told reporters that he had no "direct contact" with the resistance group, adding that the issue of Hizbullah's weapons "can be dealt with in a calm manner."

Jumblatt also dismissed media reports that the national dialogue sessions might be delayed as a result of bickering over the number of participants and items on the agenda.

"We are waiting for the president's invitation," he added

On Tuesday, the head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad said national dialogue still awaits action on the third clause of the Doha Accord, which was signed in May.

"We still have to implement the third article of the Doha agreement, which concerns electoral law, before we move on to the national dialogue," he said.

Raad said it was in no one's interest to delay the drafting of the electoral law, adding that Berri "is committed to its quick implementation and the Administration and Justice parliamentary committee is putting the final touches on the final draft."

Following a meeting with Former President Emile Lahoud on Tuesday, Raad said that his party would continue to pursue a strategy of openness toward "different parties and factions in Lebanon in order to achieve stability, even if it aggravates some."

Raad also responded to criticism of Hizbullah's call for increasing the number of participants at the national dialogue, saying "this is in the hands of President Michel Sleiman."

Responding to Raad's remarks, Lebanese Forces boss Samir Geagea accused Hizbullah and its allies of trying to "impede dialogue sessions."

"Some suggestions convey attempts to obstruct the dialogue such as the one released today demanding the completion of discussions over the electoral law before the national dialogue can begin," Geagea said. 

Geagea added that it was "crucial" that the national dialogue follow the "agenda that was previously agreed upon."

"All disputes must be resolved within the dialogue sessions, most importantly the issues of security and defense strategy," Geagea said during a meeting with Lebanese Forces members in Baabda on Tuesday.

Geagea described requests to increase the number of participants in the dialogue as "just fairytales because this would require a new Doha agreement."

Meanwhile, two days before a cabinet session scheduled for Thursday, political debates over senior military and security posts intensified Tuesday.

An-Nahar daily on Tuesday quoted well-informed government sources as saying that efforts are under way to appoint the army chief and four Central Bank governor deputies during Thursday's government session.

The same sources said that 10 or 12 director generals at various ministries and around six heads of public institutions would be appointed later on.

They said, however, that there was still no agreement on the first batch of appointments, including the name of the future Lebanese Army commander.

Conversely, As-Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday that the appointments won't be included on the agenda of the cabinet session.

Separately, informed sources told Al-Liwa newspaper that the bombing that targeted army soldiers last week in Tripoli warranted the swift appointment of a new army commander.

Acting Army Commander General Shawki al-Masri said last week's explosion in Tripoli, which left at least 14 people dead among them nine soldiers, was an attack against "all of Lebanon" and "a failed attempt to undermine the army's role in protecting national unity."

"Terrorism cannot attain its objectives, because it is alien to the Lebanese culture; the army will follow terrorists and we will seriously deal with anyone who violates security," he told high-ranking army officers at the Defense Ministry in Yarze.

 

Copyright The Daily Star 2008.