Suleiman Says Cabinet Deadlock Over ‘Demands’ Not ‘Obstacles’
President Michel Suleiman denied on Sunday that there were foreign obstacles to the cabinet formation process, saying the deadlock was over local “demands.”
“There are no foreign pitfalls,” Suleiman told reporters in Bkirki after meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi. The impasse lies on the “demands of parliamentary blocs” and “not obstacles,” he said.
He stressed on the importance of relying on dialogue and the constitution in solving cabinet formation problems.
“The constitution doesn’t give anyone shares,” Suleiman said in reference to his bickering with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on the interior ministry portfolio and the lawmaker’s demand for the lion’s share of the Christian representation in the new government.
Suleiman made his remark before attending Easter mass in Bkirki.
When asked about anti-regime protests in Syria, the president said that he was in continued contact with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, and stressed that Lebanon backs the neighboring country’s stability and supports reforms announced by the Syrian leadership.
About the meeting held between the top Maronite leaders in Bkirki last Tuesday, Suleiman said the talks were the result of the “partnership and love” slogan announced by al-Rahi after his election.
He stressed on the importance of following up the talks and said: “Political rhetoric should enjoy a high level of responsibility.”
On Saturday, Suleiman extended his greetings to the Lebanese hoping for the “real resurrection of Lebanon.”
He said in a statement released by his press office that he hoped for the “real resurrection of Lebanon the state that protects all its citizens and unifies them under the slogan of love, justice and law.”
Speaker Nabih Berri also extended his greetings to the Lebanese in general and Christians in particularly. He made a series of phone calls to Christian spiritual and political leaders.
Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri hoped, in his turn, that Easter “would constitute an occasion for the Lebanese to agree on the various national issues that are important in these sensitive circumstances for Lebanon and the Arab region.”
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