Aoun to Begin Meetings on National Dialogue Tuesday

President Michel Aoun wants the national dialogue conference to be held before the end of the month should his upcoming bilateral meetings manage to convince a number of parties, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday.

As of Tuesday, the President will hold separate meetings with a representative of the Development and Liberation bloc, Loyalty to Resistance bloc head MP Mohammed Raad, Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, Mount Lebanon Guarantee bloc head MP Talal Arslan and Tashnag bloc chief MP Hagop Pakradounian, the daily quoted informed sources in Baabda as saying.

Media reports had said overnight that Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat would not attend the proposed dialogue due to a “flu infection.” He had announced two days ago that “seeking the revival of Cabinet sessions remains the most important thing, before doing any other act.”

The presidential palace, however, has not been informed that Jumblat has canceled the Tuesday appointment.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri and the Lebanese Forces have already confirmed their boycott of the proposed dialogue.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati meanwhile considers that “the current circumstances are not appropriate for a dialogue table, whether as to timing or to its success requirements,” informed sources told al-Joumhouria.

“He accordingly prefers that Aoun don’t call for it, but if the President insists on it, he might take part in order to avoid a problem with the President,” the sources added.

“Should Miqati attend, he will do so in his capacity as prime minister and not as the head of the Center bloc, due to his commitment to the stance of the club of ex-PMs who are boycotting dialogue,” the sources went on to say.