Suleiman Hinges on Foreign Support for Successful National Dialogue
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman is hinging on foreign support to guarantee the success of the national dialogue set to be held on Thursday at the Baabda Palace, the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper reported.
Sources told the newspaper published on Monday that the March 14 opposition is expected to attend the all-party talks to express its support to Suleiman's recent stances.
Top western leaders, including French President Francois Hollande, have recently expressed support for Suleiman's calls for the national dialogue.
The sources said the opposition will separate between its decision to boycott the dialogue and all political activity linked to the government until the cabinet of Prime Minister Najib Miqati steps down.
However, the March 14 coalition previously stressed that it will not attend the dialogue session before the government resigns, demanding the formation of a neutral salvation cabinet as the only way to defuse the tension in the country.
The last round of national dialogue was held on September 20 at the Baabda Palace.
The assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan on October 19 has raised fears about unrest in the country, which is divided between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose country supervised its small neighbor for nearly 30 years.
The Ashrafiyeh bombing in Beirut deepened the gap between the March 14 alliance and the March 8 coalition, which says that there's no alternative for the current cabinet but through the formation of a unity government.
26 November 2012, 09:25
01
M14 should, and likely will, attend the dialogue if only to test the M8 seriousness. They can still boycott the government and the parliament. If M8, read HA, proved to be serious about engaging M14 for the good of Lebanon then the talks can continue. Otherwise, it is back to square one and M14 would have lost nothing but instead would have gained in internal public opinion as well as external political circles. Just my two bits.
26 November 2012, 16:43
02
I hope that these talks bring about a reconciliation between the different factions in Lebanon and bring about a stable government which can then control ALL of the country.
If not, get them back in the room and don't let them out until they do come up with an agreement.
26 November 2012, 20:56
02
If the weapons issue is handled and behind us, I really don't care what else they fight about. Democracy is not always a out agreeing but about negotiating without a gun to one's head when disagreements arise.
26 November 2012, 21:45
01
THAT is the nail I've been trying to hammer into some peoples head. Maybe I would be M8 if their policy with no weapons brought prosperity and essentials to Lebanon. But I will never be with any group that forces others to adopt its view by sheer muscle.
26 November 2012, 21:46
01
Phoneix. I agree this has been the best president we have had in ages. And this is a man worth extending his mandate. Not Lahoud of all people. I hope he runs in the elections in ALL areas and trounces both M8 and M14.
