Salam Says Cabinet Can't be Formed at National Dialogue Table

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has criticized the initiative of Speaker Nabih Berri, saying the government can’t be formed through only a several-day national dialogue conclave.

“The only natural place for the formation of the government comes through the support of the PM-designate,” Salam told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published on Friday.

The formation of the government cannot wait the national dialogue, he said.

Anything other than the discussion of the formation of the cabinet with Salam and President Michel Suleiman would lead to new “unwanted practices” that are not constitutional, Salam said.

Berri has called for a five-day dialogue conclave held by the rival March 8 and March 14 camps at Baabda Palace under Suleiman and with the participation of Salam to discuss the form and policy statement of the future cabinet, in addition to other controversial issues mainly Hizbullah's arms.

Salam denied in his remarks to al-Akhbar that he has failed to form the new cabinet six months after his appointment.

“The mission is difficult,” he said. “The political forces have failed and not me.”

“They call day and night for the quick formation of the cabinet … but at the same time they put obstacles to it,” Salam added.

The PM-designate is referring to both the March 8 and 14 alliances that have put conditions and counter-conditions which have prevented him from coming up with a line-up to his proposed 24-member cabinet.

An Nahar newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that March 8 continues to hold onto its call for the representation of political parties in the new cabinet in accordance to their parliamentary weight – a measure that would grant it veto power, which Salam totally rejects.

The sources also said that Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun has insisted to keep the energy portfolio with his son-in-law Jebran Bassil.

An Nahar quoted political sources as saying that Salam was on the verge of announcing a line-up in the past two days but he changed his mind to avoid another crisis before Suleiman's trip to New York.

The president is scheduled to travel to the U.S. for the U.N. General Assembly and a meeting on its sidelines to discuss ways of helping Lebanon cope with the Syrian refugee influx.