Salam Warns of Collapse and Destruction if Problems not Resolved
Prime Minister Tammam Salam has warned that the state would “collapse” if Baabda Palace remained vacant and the cabinet crisis was not solved, As Safir daily reported on Thursday.
“I have told Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that (Tehran's) lauding of the (Lebanese) government and its head should be interpreted with bringing a consensual president or else Lebanon would collapse and be destroyed,” Salam said, according to As Safir.
Zarif made a two-day visit to Beirut last week.
“I won't allow the same scenarios to be repeated in the cabinet,” said the premier about disputes among ministers and their failure in the last session to reach any decision.
As Safir said that Salam made his remarks to his visitors on Wednesday.
Salam did not invite the cabinet to convene this week, saying he was giving consultations time to resolve the crisis, which erupted over the insistence of the Free Patriotic Movement to first discuss the government's decision-making mechanism.
The FPM has been holding street protests against what it says is Salam's violation of the Christian president's powers amid a vacuum at Baabda Palace. It is seeking to amend the cabinet's working mechanism and wants to pressure the government to appoint high-ranking military and security officials rather than extending their terms.
Salam told his visitors that despite the procrastination on calling the cabinet to convene, he will “use his Constitutional right to invite for a government session to discuss issues with high priority.”
He also stressed that he had high confidence in the wisdom of Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat to find a solution to the cabinet crisis and the parliament paralysis.
“When I threatened that I would resign, I wasn't maneuvering,” said Salam.
“But I backed off from my decision after it created a positive political shock,” he added.
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