Tuesday 25 August 2009

Aoun, Raad Confident "Monopolization" Gov't Won't See Light


Aoun, Raad Confident "Monopolization" Gov't Won't See Light

25/08/2009 .. And in the third day, the PM-Designate "cut" his "vacation"!

On Monday, PM-Designate Saad Hariri returned to Beirut where he's set to work day and night to accomplish his "impossible mission" of forming a "partnership" government that would join the loyalty and the opposition in one cabinet…

Hariri, who just ended his second "vacation" since being appointed to form the cabinet two months ago, is required to form the government as soon as possible or, otherwise, apologize, an option that Hariri's allies and aides not only rule out but also find strange. Hariri, in fact, enjoys a "constitutional support": he has all the time he needs to form the cabinet since there are absolutely no rules defining his mission or limiting it by time.

Meanwhile, the national opposition seemed to be confident that a "monopolization" cabinet that doesn't address its rights wouldn't see light and that its fair demands would be fulfilled at the end.

In this context, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun stressed "any government that fails to address our rights will not see light," adding that "we represent the bulk of Christians."

Speaking to Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, Aoun emphasized that the Free Patriotic Movement demands are clear. "We will not accept the appointment of any staffer or directors or others without our participation in decision-making," he added. "Thus, our presence within the government and within the ministries is necessary," he stressed.

The General reiterated that he had worked in facilitation of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's task to form a government of national unity, stressing he is the "Christian's political weight in Lebanon."

"Those who don't want to give us a role, let them look for others," he threatened.

Aoun expressed belief that external developments were "now not in the interest of forming a government."

For his part, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad Raad said Hezbollah has decided not to respond to statements made by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at this stage. "We have switched to 'silence mode' in everything related to Patriarch Sfeir at this stage," he explained.

Speaking to Lebanese daily An-Nahar, Raad said he believed regional powers are keen to "impose the government they want on our people."

"As long as there are obstacles preventing formation of such a government, it means there is a dilemma among these forces that is driving them into exerting pressure to block a Cabinet lineup that does not fit their desires," Raad said. "We are not accusing anyone, but we believe that it is the responsibility of the premier-designate to assess the supreme national interest to resolve the Cabinet issue," he added.

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