Abou Faour Pessimistic over Possible Consensus on Cabinet's Policy Statement
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour expressed pessimism on Monday over reaching consensus among the rival parties on the cabinet's policy statement, in particular regarding the army-people-resistance equation and the ongoing war in Syria.
“All sides should offer compromises in order to reach common grounds,” Abou Faour said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.
The minister, who is loyal to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, expressed belief that Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet could be an appeasement and national unity government.
“The cabinet could at least organize the political dispute, fortify security and revive the economy,” Abou Faour pointed out.
On Friday, the committee drafting the ministerial policy statement failed anew to reach an agreement on the clause related to resisting Israel as the March 14 forces insisted on “the state's authority over everything.”
The committee's meeting was the seventh since Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet was formed around two weeks ago.
Salam has announced that his government's mission is combating terrorism and preparing for the upcoming presidential election.
He considered that the main goal of Salam's cabinet is to carry out the upcoming presidential elections, reject any kind of vacuum at the state's higher post.
Asked about the mediation role that Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun is carrying out to bridge the gap between al-Mustaqal movement and Hizbuallah, Abou Faour praised the move.
“Aoun's endeavors will create further possibilities to reach consensus,” the minister pointed out.
He noted that Aoun's exerted efforts facilitates the role that the PSP is playing between the political arch-foes.
Aoun recently confirmed that he has recently met with former premier Saad Hariri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
"If you want to make a mediation, you must talk to everyone. Hizbullah is not embarrassed of my rapprochement with Mustaqbal (Movement) and we will all be able to close ranks,” Aoun had said.
Concerning the recommencement of all-party talks, Abou Faour said that the “positive dynamic endeavors that accompanied the formation of the cabinet should be strengthened by the resumption of a serious and productive national dialogue.”
The last dialogue session was held on September 20, 2012.
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