Report: Suleiman Proposes STL Funding to be Approved in Absence of Hizbullah Ministers
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman proposed that Hizbullah not attend Wednesday’s scheduled session so that the cabinet approves the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, al-Liwaa newspaper reported.
The daily said on Monday that Suleiman is exerting efforts to resolve the crisis that is threatening to collapse the cabinet.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati had warned to resign if the funding of the STL wasn’t approved by the cabinet; however, Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has openly opposed Lebanon paying its annual share.
Sources told the newspaper that the President held a meeting behind closed doors with Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who is Speaker Nabih Berri's top aide.
Suleiman discussed with Khalil the possibility of holding Wednesday’s cabinet session without the attendance of Hizbullah ministers, where the funding of the STL would be approved without causing embarrassment to any party.
Lebanon is responsible for meeting 49 percent of the costs of the STL, which has charged four Hizbullah members in the February 14, 2005 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others.
Suleiman suggests that this solution will safeguard Lebanon, as it confirms Lebanon’s commitment to the international resolutions, according to al-Liwaa.
However, Hizbullah refused the president’s proposal, stressing that its ministers will attend all the cabinet’s sessions.
The cabinet is expected to witness a heated debate on Wednesday as the funding of the STL has deepened the rift between the cabinet members.
Hizbullah and its allies in the cabinet, the Free Patriotic Movement and AMAL, refuse to fund the STL, while Miqati and his allies stress on the importance of committing to paying Lebanon’s dues.
28 November 2011, 11:29
03
Yallah... here we go for a long round of boycot, absences, lack of quotas, resignations, and a country once again broken down...
This government is nothing but a failure!
28 November 2011, 11:45
02
yallah,,, looks like the govt wont fund the STL, it will collapse... and god help us all
28 November 2011, 13:08
04
Logically, they need this government to stay in place till the next elections, and I still believe it is a mascarade of which the sole aim is to give a boost to miqati.
they cannot afford to lose the government: they know they will have no more say in anything this time round. they are playing all their cards now, and they cannot lose this government.
but anyway, they are doomed because they are not on the side of what is right :)
28 November 2011, 14:24
02
@geha
Logically yes. I agree. Voting against would mean firing a bullet in their own foot...but how could they twist it... they cannot find 6 miraculous (amal, Hezb or FMP) votes to vote suddenly for...
I say they will either:
A) Vote against, and see this gvt collapse, and keep Mikati as a care taker untill the next elections
B) The opposition will boycot all stl related sessions untill next elections (no vote)
C) Make a "coup"!
28 November 2011, 14:35
14
Could someone possibly understand what this man is actually trying to achieve? Is he fooling himself or the Hizb?
What has any of our gov seriously achieved? Regardless who is the majority, all they are concerned about are always trying to keep the Hizb satisified. These people used to always blame M14 for not approving their proposals. Who is stopping them now?
There is one common denominator, HA. Ignore them you cowards and stop giving them attention! We are supposedly meant to be a democratic country. Our politicians might have to all go back to school and re-educate themselves about DEMOCRACY.
28 November 2011, 14:46
50
Why do Christians have to support action against Hezbollah? It did not have any interest in killing Hariri. STL accusations have been proven false in the past. And everybody knows it is a tool against Hezbollah. Western governments have long hoped it would harm the lebanese resistance
28 November 2011, 15:29
02
@Patriot
the scenarios you are putting forth are flawed for the following reasons:
A) a caretaker government means they cannot approve any new project, thus they will not be bale to say they achieved anything :) result: they will lose the elections dramatically.
B) in this case, either miqati resigns, or, even worse our banking system is shutdown like for the lebanese Canadian (these will be the promised sanctions) thus there will be no more country....
C) this is the most likely thing they will do. but even this, will mean the disintegration of the country....
what I am saying is that we are faccing an extremely crucial period in our history, and most likely, we will have to bear arms soon, very soon...
28 November 2011, 16:19
01
@geha
Who will hezbollah attack? They have no oponents! They have the weapons, the training, the telecom. Another May 7th at the best...
