Govt. Approves Diplomatic Appointments, Suleiman Says Door of Dialogue with March 14 Still Open

The government on Wednesday approved the long-awaited diplomatic appointments, selecting ambassadors comprised of state employees and non-state employees, in the first cabinet session to be held after the assassination of Intelligence Bureau head Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan and amid calls for the cabinet to step down.

MTV, meanwhile, reported that "the ministers of the National Struggle Front voiced reservations over the government's appointment of non-state employees as ambassadors."

During the session, President Michel Suleiman said “the country is going through a difficult period and the situations around us are not easy, that's why dialogue must be the only path towards resolving the crisis.”

At the beginning of the session, the president called on the army to control the security situations as soon as possible, saying the chiefs of the security agencies briefed him on Tuesday on “the preemptive plan that is being implemented to prevent any security incidents or bombings.”

Suleiman noted that “there is international keenness on security and political stability in Lebanon, and this was demonstrated in the meetings, statements and contacts of the past few days.”

“If it is possible to form a national unity government in order to reach a better situation, we are not against this idea and the door is open for everyone,” Suleiman added, revealing that his latest talks with several political leaders did not tackle the formation of a new government.

“We did not violate the Constitution by holding these consultations and we did not close the door on any proposal,” the president said.

Commenting on the statement issued by the March 14 forces on Tuesday, Suleiman pointed out that “March 14's stances did not close the door on the possibility of engaging in dialogue, and this is something positive.”

Following a broad meeting at the Center House on Tuesday, the March 14 forces declared a “total boycott” of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government, calling for a “neutral, salvation government that endorses the Baabda Declaration as its ministerial Policy Statement.”

“We will not tolerate that our rejection of the dangerous situation be depicted as a battle to return to power or to the premiership,” the March camp said.

Hasan was assassinated in a massive car bombing in Ashrafiyeh on October 19. Two other people were killed and more than 100 wounded, as the blast gutted two apartment buildings.

The opposition March 14 forces have blamed Syria for the attack and demanded the resignation of the Hizbullah-led government.