Abou Faour Says 'Satisfactory Formula' Reached over Baabda Declaration, Discussion Now on Resistance

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour announced on Wednesday that the ministerial panel tasked with drafting a policy statement has reached a “satisfactory formula” regarding mentioning the Baabda Declaration in the draft.

"We reached a satisfactory formula over the Baabda Declaration which respects all parties' stances,” Abou Faour told reporters after the committee's sixth meeting at the Grand Serail.

"We have now moved on to discuss other topics,” he added. “The discussions are very courteous and most clauses have been finalized.”

MTV revealed that Abou Faour's formula mentions commitment to the resolutions of the national dialogue sessions that were held at the parliament and in Baabda.

“And therefore, the Baabda Declaration won't be mentioned,” it explained.

“We agree on all conclusions of the national dialogue sessions,” Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil stated prior to the meeting.

MTV noted that the conferees did not agree on any point in their meeting on Wednesday, adding that the ministers hoped Friday's meeting will be the last.

Meanwhile regarding the army-people-resistance equation, the same source said Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish noted before the talks that the latest Israeli raid “is a proof that the resistance should be mentioned in the ministerial statement.”

Hizbullah confirmed on Wednesday that Israeli fighter jets had shelled one of its positions on the Lebanese-Syrian border on Monday.

The raids targeted the countryside of the Lebanese town of Nabi Sheet on the border between the two neighboring countries.

"The Finance Minister suggested mentioning the Lebanese's right to resist against Israel but the March 14 camp insisted on writing "Lebanon's rights to resist' instead to underscore the role of the state,” MTV elaborated.

Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi said before the session that the army “must respond to any violation of Lebanese sovereignty.”

He also considered that Speaker Nabih Berri's insistence on mentioning the resistance in the policy statement aims at “raising the ceiling of negotiations.”

Telecommunications Minister Boutros Harb hailed the prevailing positive atmosphere, considering that it leads to a national consensus.

"And we respect President Michel Suleiman's opinion,” he added.

OTV had noted that Suleiman's abandoning of his insistence to include the Baabda Declaration in the policy statement is what eased reaching an accord on Wednesday.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Wednesday that the president will not “stand as an obstacle” should the committee tasked with devising a government policy statement succeed in its mission.

To that end the president has reportedly abandoned his insistence to include the Baabda Declaration in the statement.