Miqati: Hizbullah, Allies Majority in New Govt Doesn’t Mean Lebanon Will Confront Int’l Community
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
After announcing his long-awaited cabinet formation, Prime Minister Najib Miqati insisted on Monday that the new government line-up, in which Hizbullah and its allies have a majority, will not place the country in the “radical camp.”
"The fact that Hizbullah and its allies have 18 seats in the 30-member cabinet does not mean that the country will join the radical camp in terms of its relations with the international community," Miqati told Agence France Presse.
He pointed out that it was significant that more than one-third -- 12 -- of the cabinet ministers were appointed by himself, President Michel Suleiman and Druze leader MP Walid Jumblat, thus ensuring Hizbullah and its allies could not control the government.
Earlier Monday, Miqati told Al-Jadeed television that his first visit as Lebanon’s premier will be to “the beloved South,” where he will inspect the Lebanese army units deployed there and UNIFIL peacekeepers.
Asked about the phone call President Michel Suleiman received from his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad after the cabinet line-up was announced, Miqati said: “When President Assad congratulates President Suleiman, that means that he has congratulated the new cabinet, and this is something essential.”
Commenting on Lebanese Democratic Party MP Talal Arslan’s swift resignation from the new cabinet and accusations against the premier, Miqati said he was “surprised by the remarks of Prince Talal, the heir of a major political dynasty.”
Arslan lashed out earlier in the day at Miqati, accusing him of practicing “deception” and conspiring against national unity.
“In line with my convictions, I announce before the Lebanese people my resignation from the government of the so-called Najib Miqati whom I am not honored to be seated next to,” said Arslan.
Miqati said the new government’s “main challenge” lies in being a “harmonious team.”
Commenting on Speaker Nabih Berri’s relinquishing of a Shiite portfolio for Faisal Karami -- thus creating a precedent of a having a cabinet comprised of seven Sunni ministers and five Shiite ones – Miqati said Berri had explained his “sacrifice” to him.
“I’m committed to equal power-sharing between sects, but Speaker Berri insisted on giving up the portfolio,” the PM said.
Asked about the fact that his cabinet does not include any women, Miqati said he had repeatedly asked the parliamentary blocs to name women candidates. “I believe this is a flaw, but I hope it will be the only flaw in the cabinet, God willing,” he added.
In a speech at the Baabda Palace after the cabinet formation was announced earlier in the day, Miqati stressed that he will remain committed to “the constitution, the liberation of Lebanon’s occupied territory, and dialogue as a means to end dispute among the Lebanese.”
“We have overcome the differences in the government formation and we should immediately head to work.”
“We hope the Cabinet will earn your confidence and the confidence of your representatives in parliament,” he said, addressing the Lebanese people.
Miqati announced his government line-up following nearly five months of arduous negotiations over key portfolios including the Interior, Justice and Telecommunications Ministries.
“There can be no substitute to coexistence to confront the major dangers facing Lebanon,” Miqati added.
“This government belongs to the whole of Lebanon. Don’t judge intentions and the people, but their performance,” he added.
The prime minister also credited Speaker Berri for his efforts in the formation process, saying the new cabinet would not have been formed without him.
“I took the last minute decision because the matters in the country had reached an unbearable point,” Miqati noted.
Miqati's cabinet must now gain the approval of at least half of Lebanon's 128-strong parliament, where the Hizbullah-led alliance holds a slight majority.
13 June 2011, 22:00
32
No Ya Najeeb, it does not belong to all lebanese. It is a cabinet that is controlled and inspired by the enemies of Lebanon, the Iranian regime and the Syrian regime.
The double talk has allowed Hezbollah to become the monster it really is now. As long as our politicians continue to say what they do not really mean the evil forces that are holding Lebanon hostage will continue to win.
13 June 2011, 22:34
31
Lebanon’s Silent Majority cannot remain silent in face of this government formed by Assad and Ahmadinajad’s puppets and imposed by Basij arms. This government has the same legitimacy as Assad’s regimes in Syria. It can only survive by brute force and sacrificing freedom and democracy, after they have sacrificed our culture and economy. Miquati’s government will turn Lebanon into a copycat of Syria and Iran with the same abuses of human rights, oppression of opposition, culture of hate and war, and political mafia making the economy subservient to political interest. We will no longer remain silent and we ask all the free nations to understand that this government is imposed on Lebanese by Assad and Ahmadinajad and can cause great harms on our freedom and democracy. We will support all punitive actions the free world will take against this government even if we will suffer the consequences in the short term, as others in the region are suffering to demand freedom from tyranny.
13 June 2011, 22:34
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PM Mikati is talking by own mouth, let time pass to see how: a) the new members will act NOW THEY ARE AT POWER and b)international community will answer to the acts and words issued by whom are behind the actual nomination, because they are who really move the string for acts happens,
13 June 2011, 22:38
30
Lebanon will not confront the Int. community but they will now confront Lebanon and treated as axis of evil. And it's better to have no women rather than 14th century veiled penguins.
13 June 2011, 22:56
13
Youssef...the enemy of Lebanon is ONLY YOU (Israel) ...ALL LEBANESE LEADERS have confirmed it. Try an anti-Lebanese pro-Israeli apartheid website since you think Israeli Apartheid is supported by "civilized" people. . You are wasting your time here.
13 June 2011, 23:01
11
We need to have a prime minister like Natenyahu. The international community love him???
13 June 2011, 23:14
32
Miquati wanted a harmonious effective cabinet. LOL. And here the results: Baroud, Rahal, Khalife, Najjar, Sayegh, Mitri, Harb, and Murr who brought effectiveness and dignity are out and Bassil, Nahhas, Fattoush, Abboud, Qanso, Karami, Arslan who represent the worst and most ineffective and contrarian individuals with street manners are in... Mr. Miquati: stop taking Lebanese for stupid. You committed a major mistake/treason and we were willing to give you another chance. Now we will simply say loud and clear: Go To Hell to you and your ministers. As to your political career, it was just thrown into the garbage can where it belongs. We can’t wait for Cedar Revolution II in 2013 to get rid once for all of all this garbage.
13 June 2011, 23:27
11
"silent majority" Gebran sons...a much larger majority of lebanese residence vote than any colonial western country especially the KKKUSA. If you really believe in a democracy, whicvh you do not, then you would accept majoriy rule. Stop whinning. You sound like a real sore loser.
13 June 2011, 23:41
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Comrade undercover double identity Qawmi John nice to see Comrade Ali on the list. I wonder if a pro apartheid PM Netanyahoo would consider Lebanon and independent country unlike you, me and Mr Qanso,
14 June 2011, 04:15
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If we all agree to boycott any one who has been a member of parliament or anyone who is a son/daughter of a member of parliament. Then in our next election we just go elect a totally new group to our parliament.
There will be a chance to get rid of all these thugs.
If we vote to any one of the older group, we are just wasting our time.
Let us make this a plan and mobilize all the voters. We will win and we will have a chance to get a new bright Lebanon just in peace with no single drop of blood shed.
14 June 2011, 07:33
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alienating the sunni street is not a wise choice by HA or FPM. They better start reaching out to them so what is happening in Syria now does not happen in Lebanon in the future. Sunnis in Lebanon should not feel more secure and friendly toward KSA and turkey then they do to fellow Lebanese. This will come back to bite in the butt and all Lebanese will pay for it. Only israel will gain.
HA, you need to reach out to sunnis more.
Aoun you need to visit Miqati. Hoss, and Karami.
Anything less is stupid.
14 June 2011, 10:43
11
Muhsin's majority rule is like Assad/Khadafi/Mobarak/Saddam’s 99% public support. The greatest lie in Lebanon is that Aoun and Hizbollah are protecting the interests of the Christians and Shias. In fact, they are providing the same protection as Khadafi to Libya or Assad to Syria, which is leading their community to the abyss. It will take generations to fix the damage caused by these eccentric deranged individuals. So many have already lost their livelihood or forced to emigrate. Sadly, Arab people remain so infatuated by the aura of power that tyrants like Khadafi, Assad or Nassrallah still have supporters despite the destruction they’ve caused. These tyrants are mentally unbalanced and obsessed individuals that would not hesitate sacrificing their country to satisfy their obsession. The worst obsession is Aoun with presidency even if Lebanon is destroyed in the process. May god give Aoun long life so he’ll see his day in court for all the suffering and destruction he has caused!
