Miqati after Meeting al-Rahi: Parliamentary Elections Will be Held on Time

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that the 2013 parliamentary elections will be held on time, refuting all rumors and statements suggesting the contrary.

After meeting Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara al-Rahi in Bkerki, Miqati rejected any isolation or boycotting of communication between the rival parties, saying that all “sides should stand united especially given the very difficult regional situation”.

"Lebanon must be united regardless of what happens in Syria,” he stressed.

The March 14 coalition announced after the assassination of General Wissam al-Hasan on October 19 that it will suspend all activities related to the government's work and will also boycott the national dialogue sessions, awaiting the resignation of Miqati's cabinet.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel had said that it is possible for the elections to be postponed if no agreement was reached on an electoral law between the different parties in the country.

Commenting on al-Mustaqbal MP Oqab Saqr's alleged involvement in arming the Syrian opposition, Miqati said “he had no statements on this matter”, adding that the government is “committed to its policy of self-disassociation”.

An audio recording posted on al-Akhbar newspaper and OTV's websites on Thursday revealed a conversation between Saqr and “a leader in the Syrian opposition”, during which they apparently agree on a weapon delivery deal.