Salam Declares Support for Syria's Revolution: Cabinet's Mission Is to Hold Elections
PM-designate Tammam Salam stated on Saturday that heading the new cabinet is a huge responsibility that must be shared “with all those who nominated him”, stressing that his government's role is to carry the parliamentary elections.
The premier-designate also announced his support for the “Syrian people's revolution”, saying that he will voice out his stance in this matter whenever it does not “contradict with Lebanon's interests”.
“Being chosen to head the new cabinet is a huge responsibility but it is not only mine. All those who have named me for premiership share this responsibility,” Salam said in an interview on LBCI television.
Salam expressed: “We hope that consensus between different political factions lasts after the cabinet's formation”.
The premier-designate stressed that the new cabinet's role is focused on holding the parliamentary elections: “What is needed now is a neutral cabinet that carries the parliamentary elections as the polls are very important for Lebanon”.
“We are proud of Lebanon's democracy and this system means rotation of power. This is why elections are a must,” he explained.
He announced that there will be a technical delay of the elections but assured that the parliament's term will not be extended.
Regarding the government, Salam declared that it will be known as the "National Interest Cabinet", adding that he seeks to form a council of ministers whose members are not nominated for parliamentary elections.
“This cabinet's mission is to hold the elections and it will be neutral,” he confirmed, noting that it will abide by the Baabda Declaration.
“ A one-sided cabinet did not succeed in transferring Lebanon into a new stage,” Salam remarked.
“However, we will definitely have a political cabinet after the elections”.
The Beirut MP stated that he is an independent political figure who is allied with March 14: “But today I have a sweeping role and this is a huge responsibility”.
“I will communicate with all parties. No one can impose anything on me and as such, I will not force anything on anyone,” he assured.
“This consensus over nominating me requires that I communicate with all political factions and I am not aware of their stances to extract conclusions”.
Salam expressed that Hizbullah is a major component in Lebanon, asking the party's leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah for support.
He commented on Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat's role in choosing him to head the new cabinet: “This issue is not about names but about how to pull Lebanon out of the crisis and Jumblat is a centrist figure who was able to communicate with all factions. We thank him for this”.
“Speaker Nabih Berri did have an effective and influential role in this respect,” he pointed out.
The Beirut MP revealed that he has received the news about his nomination before meeting with al-Mustaqbal Movement head MP Saad Hariri in the KSA, denying receiving a phone call from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah congratulating him on becoming the PM-designate.
“I held talks with Prince Bandar bin Sultan to discuss future stages and the KSA played an important role in Lebanon and it supported the country's unity and independence. It always stood by Lebanon's side”.
“I thank ex-PM Hariri who has a dream for this country”.
The presidency announced Salam's election on Saturday after a meeting was held between President Michel Suleiman and Berri, during which the latter was informed by the president of the parliamentary consultations' details.
Salam assumed the position of prime minister on the second day of the binding parliamentary consultations after garnering a total of 124 votes by lawmakers.
Regarding the Syrian conflict and the disassociation policy towards regional events, Salam stressed that his main concern is to shield Lebanon from what is happening in neighboring countries, expressing, however, his support of the “Syrian people's revolution”.
“I am with the Syrian people's revolution and I will not deny it. I will express my support whenever it does not put my country to danger," he stated.
“When officials cling to their positions, then the people become the holders of eligibility and we support their revolution”.
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