March 14 to Push Forward Cabinet Formation Process, Rejects Hizbullah Participation
The March 14 alliance is mulling a new plan to push forward the formation of the new cabinet that would be based on the Baabda declaration.
“The coalition will form a political-media pressure bloc to form a neutral cabinet,” March 14 forces general-secretariat coordinator Fares Souaid said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.
He noted that “those who reject to include the Baabda declaration in any ministerial statement should form another cabinet according to its own perceptions.”
The Baabda Declaration was approved unanimously during a national dialogue session in June 2012.
It calls for Lebanon to adopt a policy of disassociation from regional developments.
A source close to the March 14 camp reiterated to An Nahar newspaper that the alliance insists on the formation of a cabinet that excludes Hizbullah.
“We will not sit on the same table with Hizbullah as long as it's fighting battles in Syria, wants to impose its conditions on the Lebanese and foreign countries consider it a terrorist organization,” the source added.
Hizbullah has dispatched fighters to battle alongside the Syrian regime against rebels seeking the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.
The conflict, pitting a Sunni-dominated rebel movement against Assad, has raised sectarian tensions in Lebanon and Lebanese Sunni fighters have also been killed while fighting alongside Syrian rebels.
Souaid called on President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to assume their responsibilities and for a cabinet immediately.
Six months after caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government resigned, the feuding parties have so far failed to agree on a new cabinet.
Salam is seeking to form a cabinet divided equally between the Lebanese foes and the centrists and rejects to grant the veto power to any party.
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