Suleiman Stresses on Dialogue, Lebanon’s International Commitments

President Michel Suleiman moved to his summer residence in Beiteddine for three weeks, while his consultations with top officials over the dialogue are ongoing, including talks with Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

Wissam Baroudi, the president’s son-in-law, told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that the president used his constitutional right concerning the formation of the cabinet.

“No one can blame him or take away the right granted to him by the constitution,” he said.

Baroudi, who intends to run for the 2013 parliamentary elections in Keserouan, confirmed that the president “chose the ministers that represent him based on consensus.”

However, he denied that Suleiman demanded a share for himself.

“He was keen on forming a bloc that safeguards the cabinet and the country.”

Asked about the national dialogue, Baroudi expressed his belief that the March 14-led opposition “didn’t read into the president’s statement and hasted in placing conditions.”

He told the newspaper that “the president realizes that the previous dialogue committee doesn’t work today… He’s looking for the best foundation for the dialogue and the basis it should start from.”

Concerning the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, the newspaper quoted Baroudi as saying: “Suleiman will not agree on disavowing from the cabinet’s international commitments.”

However, he told the daily that the president has a personal conviction that “Hizbullah’s concerns and doubts regarding the STL cannot be over passed.”