Miqati Says 'Dealing Positively with Challenges' but Has His 'Limits'

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Thursday noted that he is “dealing positively and openly with the challenges,” while pointing out that there are “limits” for his flexibility.

“It is true that I am dealing positively and openly with the challenges, no matter their magnitude, and I’m giving discussion and dialogue their maximum capacity, but it is also true that dialogue stops at the limits of national and personal beliefs from which I will never deviate,” Miqati said at a ceremony in Tripoli.

He added that the “limits” are “the judiciary’s independence” and “preserving Lebanon’s Arab belonging and maintaining brotherhood ties with the Arab brothers, topped by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

“The principle of the state is based on individuals and groups voluntarily giving up some of what they have for the sake of the public interest,” Miqati said.

“Whereas the approach based on permanent advocacy of private rights, for individuals or groups, largely leads to creating tensions and paralyzing the institutions,” he warned.