Suleiman Appeases Gemayel as Phalange Set to Keep Ministers in Cabinet

Phalange leader Amin Gemayel visited President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace on Tuesday a day after holding talks with the prime minister on his party's reservations over the cabinet's policy statement and amid hints that it is set to withdraw its threat to quit the government.

Several ministers and lawmakers representing the Phalange accompanied Gemayel to seek clarifications from Suleiman, who told the delegation that “the policy statement focuses on the authority of the state in all political affairs and mainly the defense of Lebanon and the liberation of occupied Lebanese territories.”

The document is “in conformity with” with the Baabda Declaration and the national defense strategy in terms of the authority of the state and its role in benefiting from the legitimate capabilities of the nation.

Premier Tammam Salam also appeased Gemayel on Monday, saying he understood the concerns expressed by the party.

He explained that “the statement highlighted the unity of the state in that it is the sole authority in Lebanon tasked with handling public affairs.”

The party warned late Saturday that the three ministers representing it in Salam's 24-member government will resign before a parliamentary vote of confidence if the policy statement wasn't amended.

The reservations expressed by the Phalange are on the following clause: "By the virtue of the state's responsibility to preserve Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the government stresses the state's duty and efforts to liberate the Shebaa Farms, the Kfarshouba Hills and the occupied part of Ghajar (village) through all legitimate means, while stressing the right of Lebanese citizens to resist Israeli occupation, repel its aggressions and regain the occupied land.”

Gemayel's meeting with Salam was preceded by talks between the premier and Phalange MP Sami Gemayel.

Phalange ministers Sejaan Qazzi and Ramzi Greij also visited Salam at the Grand Serail.

An Nahar daily said that an amended copy of the policy statement was distributed to MPs ahead of the two-day vote of confidence session on Wednesday.

The Phalange MPs are likely to give their confidence to the cabinet amid hints that the party would retract its threat to withdraw from the government after Salam's clarifications.

Phalange official Salim al-Sayegh told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that the politburo will meet on Tuesday to make a decision out of its keenness on “the national and not party interest.”

“We hope to reach positive results,” the former minister said.

“We were the first to call for the formation of a government to salvage Lebanon and we were the only (party) that did not impose conditions on the premier-designate,” he added.