Mustaqbal: Policy Statement Should Adhere to Baabda Declaration, Bkirki Charter

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc hoped on Thursday that government's policy statement would focus on national principles that enjoyed consensus among the rival political powers.

It said after its weekly meeting: “The ministerial statement should adhere to the Baabda Declaration and Bkirki charter and commit to the policy of disassociation from regional crises.”

The policy statement should also stress the importance of maintaining Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and the state's right and duty to confront Israeli and other foreign assaults.

“The country should no longer remain victim of agendas that contradict the people's interest and ambitions for a free and independent state,” it continued.

The Lebanese people hope that the new government will also pave the way to staging the presidential elections on time and later holding the parliamentary elections as well.

The ministerial committee tasked with devising a new policy statement has so far failed to come up with a statement given the differences between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over the inclusion of the Baabda Declaration.

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

The committee is scheduled to convene on Friday.

Addressing on Monday's Israeli strike against a Hizbullah position in the Bekaa, the Mustaqbal bloc strongly condemned the assault, demanding that the Lebanese army and concerned agencies gather information about the incident in a manner that will enable the state to take necessary measures to confront it.

Israeli jets struck on Monday a Hizbullah position near the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The party said that none of its members were killed or hurt in the incident, vowing that it will choose the appropriate time and place to retaliate to the attack.