Saniora Blames Arms for Lebanon's Slow Political Process

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora said Lebanon's political process was being slowed down by several obstacles including the use of arms by certain factions.

In remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper published on Friday, Saniora said: “The slowness in the current political process in Lebanon goes back to (many) obstacles, the resort of some (parties) to weapons, and the attempt to use Lebanon as a forum to serve regional and international” policies.

He stressed however that Lebanon was moving towards democracy, the rejection of arms proliferation and violence, and the implementation of the so-called coexistence.

Saniora expressed confidence that Lebanon will overcome its crises and become a message of peace and coexistence.

He said Lebanon should take advantage of the changes in the Arab world and the experiences of Arab countries including their successes and failures.

“It would be unjust to think that change would come immediately,” Saniora said.

“Despite the flaws of democracy, it is eventually the best system in the world because it gives citizens the ability to deal (with the authorities) and introduce changes,” Saniora told Asharq al-Awsat.

“Democracy can be changed and fixed. We are now living in a period of change and I think we will have failures and successes but the objective should be to continue on the path of democracy,” he said.

Saniora talked to the newspaper in Brussels on the sidelines of an Arab-European dialogue conference at the European Parliament.