Salam Says Policy Statement to Be 'Short:' We'll Focus on Priorities Awaiting the Presidential Elections
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Tammam Salam announced on Wednesday that the ministerial policy statement will be “short,” noting that his cabinet will only take office for three months until the presidential elections are held.
“All points in the policy statement are to be discussed and there is no draft that has been agreed on by all factions, but we have the intention to have a heterogeneous statement,” Salam announced on Future TV, in his first televised interview since the cabinet's formation.
He added: “The cabinet will rule for three months and therefore, we will not prepare a 30-page policy statement. We have to work while taking into consideration that the presidential elections will take place on time.”
He also stated that the slogan of his council of ministers will be "let the people live."
The premier stressed that communication between all political factions in the country is necessary to reach an accord on the policy statement.
He also revealed that the atmosphere was positive earlier in the day during the ministerial committee's meeting over the policy statement.
The ministerial committee tasked with devising a government policy statement met on Wednesday afternoon at the Grand Serail amid reports that Salam will present it with a draft statement.
Reports said the statement was discussed “with positive attitudes” and that issues of contention, such as the army-people-resistance equation, were postponed for coming session.
On the 10-month long process that lead to the cabinet’s formation, Salam considered that many concessions were made to give way to the government's birth.
“All political factions realized that they have to offer concessions at one point. Concessions were first about the rotation of ministerial portfolios, and then they were manifested in Hizbullah and March 8's acceptance of the 8-8-8 lineup.”
He then remarked that ex-PM Saad Hariri was the one to take “positive steps and who eased the cabinet's formation.”
“Trust became mutual and it eventually lead to the cabinet's formation,” Salam said.
“What we achieved was 'made in Lebanon' without any diplomatic interference or international conferences and this issue wasn't highlighted in the media.”
He also praised president Michel Suleiman who “suffered with him and supported him” throughout the process.
“There is total harmony between us and this is because we are not linked to any political faction,” he explained.
Salam finally announced on Saturday the formation of a 24-minister cabinet, ten months and a week after his appointment.
The ministers have been distributed equally between the rival March 8 and 14 camps and centrists.
Commenting on Wednesday morning's double blast in the Beirut neighborhood of Bir Hassan, Salam urged both the March 8 and the March 14 camps to unite to “face this situation.”
“We rely on security institutions that are doing their job. But even if these resisted to the situation, one political statement can blow up everything and therefore we urge all forces to adopt a positive rhetoric that strengthens the state's institutions.”
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19 February 2014, 21:53
Salam: Naming me for premiership was a result of many factors especially to avoid confrontations and ex-PM Hariri is the head of the largest parliamentary bloc and the leader of his sects and some wish he would be able to return and become a PM.
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19 February 2014, 21:51
Salam: My first visit abroad will be to Saudi Arabia that supported Lebanon on many levels and particularly endorsed the army.
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19 February 2014, 21:42
Salam: If we were able to secure the vote of trust, the parliament will go back to play its legislative role and therefore deal with pending issues.
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19 February 2014, 21:37
Salam: President Suleiman and I urged ministers during the cabinet's session to pick priorities and focus on them during their time in office.
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19 February 2014, 21:26
Salam: This cabinet will be in power for three months and we have to work while considering that the presidential elections will be held on time.
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19 February 2014, 21:23
Salam: Self-disassociation is a good policy but it was not implemented.
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19 February 2014, 21:22
Salam: I will give a chance to the ministerial committee to hold talks.
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19 February 2014, 21:21
Salam: Who was able to form a cabinet will be able to draft a ministerial statement.
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19 February 2014, 21:20
Salam: Communication between all political factions is necessary to reach an accord on the policy statement and the atmosphere was positive today.
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19 February 2014, 21:19
Salam on the ministerial policy statement: All points are to be discussed and there is no draft that has been agreed on, and we have the intention to have a heterogeneous statement. The cabinet will be in power for 3 months and therefore we will not prepare a 30-page policy statement.
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19 February 2014, 21:11
Salam: The issue of a neutral cabinet was under the spotlight at one stage and it was an option. Some factions endorsed a neutral cabinet, but the Phalange Party then wanted a political cabinet.
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19 February 2014, 21:10
Salam: I would have hoped if the Lebanese Forces were represented in the cabinet.
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19 February 2014, 21:06
Salam: President Michel Suleiman suffered with me and supported me and there is total harmony between us because we are not linked to any political faction.
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19 February 2014, 21:05
Salam: I was keen on not feuding with any figures that belong to any political group.
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19 February 2014, 21:04
Salam: Minister Rashid Derbas is a centrist and does not belong to any of the rival camps or to any party. He has strong ties with all factions and does not belong to the March 14 coalition.
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19 February 2014, 21:04
Salam: From the beginning I have adopted a certain stance because 124 lawmakers named me for premiership. The caretaker premier is entrusted and their role must be strong and a reference in the country.
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19 February 2014, 21:01
Salam: A new page should be opened in Lebanon.
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19 February 2014, 21:00
Salam: Every minister works for all people and not for one group.
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19 February 2014, 20:49
Salam: What we achieved was "made in Lebanon" without any diplomatic interference or international conferences and this wasn't highlighted in the media. Lebanon was affected by regional factors throughout this period.
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19 February 2014, 20:47
Salam: Major steps were taken on a national level and ex-PM Hariri was the one who eased the cabinet's formation.
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19 February 2014, 20:46
Salam: Concession was first about the rotation of ministerial portfolios, and then it was manifested with Hizbullah and March 8's acceptance of the 8-8-8 lineup. Trust became mutual and it eventually lead to the cabinet's formation.
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19 February 2014, 20:44
Salam: All political factions realized that they have to offer concessions at one point.
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19 February 2014, 20:42
Salam: We rely on security institutions that are doing their job. But even if these resisted to the situation, one political statement can blow up everything and therefore we urge all forces to adopt a positive rhetoric that strengthens the state's institutions.
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19 February 2014, 20:41
Salam: This reality is reflected in every aspect in the country and thus, we say that the cabinet's formation is meant to face these security challenges.
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19 February 2014, 20:40
Salam: We will unite all March 14 and March 8 forces and everyone is required to face this situation.
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19 February 2014, 20:39
Salam: We offer our condolences to the martyrs' families and we wish the wounded a quick recovery. We are repeating this statement after each explosion.
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19 February 2014, 20:39
PM Salam in an interview on Future TV: This morning's suicide act makes us wonder what is the cause achieved though carrying it out but it makes us realise that we need to be united to face miseries.
19 February 2014, 21:22
22
Let us hope for the best and prepare for the worst....No to Al Qaeda affiliated groups and No to ANY armed groups outside the State mainly Hezbollah...Long live a strong democratic Lebanese state.
19 February 2014, 22:23
14
Salam and his cabinet who represent most Lebanese political factions have a hard task ahead.
We should all back this government that needs to restore security and kick start the economy.
We need to close ranks and stop blaming, accusing and insulting one another.
20 February 2014, 19:48
01
Wait I am confused. We waited 10 months for a cabinet so they can sit on their chairs for 3 months until the elections. Educate me please.
Eh Baleehhaaaaaaaaa hal kerse!
