Suleiman Says he will Meet Hariri in Riyadh but Won't Discuss Cabinet Crisis There
President Michel Suleiman revealed on Saturday that he would meet with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri during his visit to Saudi Arabia early next week.
Suleiman, who travels to Riyadh on a one-day official visit on Monday, is scheduled to hold talks with King Abdullah.
In remarks to al-Jadeed TV, Suleiman said: “Until now, an all-embracing cabinet was and still is the best option.”
But he stressed that the slogan of his visit to Riyadh is “Lebanon,” and that he would not discuss the cabinet crisis abroad.
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has faced conditions and counter conditions set by the rival parties, failing to form his new cabinet after more than seven months of efforts.
But Salam said this week that he was still patient and optimistic that he could come up with a line-up.
Addressing bickering politicians, Suleiman said in reference to the Baabda Declaration: “If you have problems among each other, then don't target what you have agreed on in my presence.”
The rival parties agreed in 2012 to distance Lebanon from the region's crises, affirmed commitment to the Taef Accord and promised to continue efforts to implement all its provisions.
Asked about the possible extension of his mandate which expires in May 2014, Suleiman said he would consider any such move “undemocratic.”
But he stressed that he saw no problem for a military figure to resign his post and reach Baabda palace.
His remarks to al-Jadeed came as presidential sources denied that some local disapproval of Riyadh's role in the region would have a negative impact on the trip.
“Saudi Arabia is a pivotal country in the region which could play a role in holding the Geneva 2 conference to resolve the Syrian crisis,” sources close to Suleiman said.
“It has also a balanced role as far as Lebanon's government crisis is concerned,” they told An Nahar daily published on Saturday.
Some officials from the March 8 alliance have criticized Suleiman, saying his visit on Monday was not made at an appropriate time.
“Are there exceptional conditions other than the ones we have in the region?” the sources asked.
They noted that Lebanon was also in a crisis, after more than seven months of attempts by Salam to form a new cabinet.
The presidential sources told An Nahar that Suleiman will stress during his visit to Riyadh Lebanon's commitment to the Baabda Declaration.
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