Salam Expresses Relief over Suleiman's Visit to Riyadh, Says Cabinet Formation Local Affair

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam described on Tuesday the visit of President Michel Suleiman to Saudi Arabia as positive, pointing out that the formation of his cabinet is a local affair linked to foreign circumstances.

“Suleiman's (visit to Saudi Arabia) definitely has benefits,” Salam said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

Suleiman kicked off on Monday his one-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, meeting with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and holding also talks with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Riyadh.

Salam stressed that the local political powers are highly affected by foreign powers, noting that the regional tension doesn't facilitate the government formation process.

“The tensed regional situation is reflected on the Lebanese political powers,” Salam said.

The PM-designate told al-Akhbar that the cabinet formation process should be discussed locally, denying that President Michel Suleiman will tackle the matter with senior Saudi officials.

Endeavors are ongoing to end the cabinet deadlock amid reports that Suleiman insists on forming it ahead of the Independence Day on November 22 based on any distribution of portfolios as long as the rival parties agree.

Salam continuously said that conditions and counter-conditions set by the rival sides have brought his efforts to form a cabinet to a stalemate.

Since his appointment to form a cabinet in April, Salam has been seeking the formation of a 24-member cabinet in which the March 8, March 14 and centrists camps would each get eight ministers.

Salam urged officials in the interview published on Tuesday in al-Akhbar to fortify the local situation amid the unknown changes in the region that the Lebanese can't impact.

“Contacts are ongoing with the political foes,” he said.

Salam stressed that he “isn't challenging any one,” saying that his “patience is running out.”

“I will hold on to my post as long as the people support me,” he noted,

Salam stressed that he isn't a “gambler or reckless.”

“I will not form a de-facto cabinet as I am not seeking to make the country enter a confrontation stage or cause new disputes among the rival parties,” he told al-Akhbar.