Mustaqbal Welcomes Dialogue 'Among All Parties', Backs Refugee Measures

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc welcomed Wednesday the “steps taken towards launching dialogue among the various parties,” stressing the importance of the “positive communication” that may lead to “national stability.”

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting, al-Mustaqbal hoped the dialogue with Hizbullah will “facilitate electing a consensual president and defuse the sectarian tension caused by the widespread weapons in the country and the actions of those who own it under different excuses.”

The bloc underlined the importance of “reactivating the work of the constitutional institutions and restoring the authority of the state across all Lebanon.”

Al-Mustaqbal stated its “support for the dialogue (with Hizbullah) and its objectives, without giving up on the fundamentals that are based on restoring the prestige of the state.”

It also welcomed the “steps taken towards dialogue among the various parties.”

"Lebanon cannot progress and be safe from dangers unless the concept of dialogue is spread among all the Lebanese,” they added.

Dialogue had kicked off on December 23, 2014 between the two parties. The second session on Monday was described by Speaker Nabih Berri as “more than positive.”

Preparatory meetings are underway between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces to pave the way for launching a similar dialogue between the two rival Christian parties.

As for the new procedures that were recently announced by the government regarding controlling the entry of Syrian refugees to Lebanon, al-Mustaqbal considered that “such procedures are sovereign in the first place.”

The governmental decree obliges any Syrian who wants to enter Lebanon to fill in a form on the border crossings, clarifying the reason of the visit such, be it for tourism, work, visiting relatives or and other reasons. The place of residence and the duration of the visit must also be mentioned in the application.

The bloc noted that “Lebanon did not get the support needed to face the burdens caused by the huge number of Syrian refugees, which created a big pressure on the Lebanese economy.”

Al-Mustaqbal also urged the political parties in its statement to “elect a new president and put an end to the presidential void.”

Regarding the national security issue, the bloc called for “deploying the army on the eastern and northern borders, with the assistance of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, as stated in (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1701 ... in order to control the border in both directions and face the repercussions of Hizbullah's interference in Syria's war.”

M.Y.

Y.R.