Mustaqbal: Policy Statement Should Not Disregard Baabda Declaration

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The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc stressed on Thursday that the new government should protect Lebanon from the impact of the Syrian crisis and be able to stage the presidential elections in May.

It said after its weekly meeting: “The policy statement must not ignore the Baabda Declaration.”

“It must also disregard outdated equations that have only negatively affected the state's sovereignty and civil peace,” it noted in reference to Hizbullah's insistence on including the “army-people-resistance” equation in the statement.

“The statement must not ignore the importance of resisting Israel, but this should take place under the authority of the state that represents all of the Lebanese people,” added the bloc.

“The bloc considers that the one-month deadline designated by the constitution for the government to complete its statement should be used to persuade the parties to fulfill this mission, not topple the cabinet,” it stressed.

The main dispute on the resistance clause erupted after the March 14 camp stressed that the actions of the resistance should be put under the authority of the state.

Several alliance officials called for “the right of Lebanon as a state and not the right of the Lebanese to resist Israel.”

But the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, including Speaker Nabih Berri, want to legitimize Hizbullah's arsenal by holding onto "the right of Lebanon and the Lebanese” to liberate the remaining territories occupied by Israel “and to resist any Israeli aggression.”

According to the constitution, the ministerial committee has until Monday to complete its work and transfer the policy statement to parliament for approval or else the cabinet would be considered resigned and President Michel Suleiman would have to call for new binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier.

Comments 6
Missing extayyar2006 13 March 2014, 13:16

After insulting them for 10 years, March 8 will be best friends with Saudi Arabia, Amrika, and Hariri!!! Soon!!!

Thumb popeye 13 March 2014, 18:58

it seems you exhibit the same behaviors you speak of.

Thumb -phoenix1 13 March 2014, 17:01

I am fully inclined to toe your views Mankoushe and I place a lot of blame fair and square on Saad Hariri's lap, as this is not the first time he commits such a capital mistake. His M14 coalition won two elections, fair and square, Sayed Hassan admitted defeat fair and square, only to recant a few days alater and ask then force to be brought into a government of national unity, when for all intents and purposes M14 won by a comfortable margin. Whether we like it or not, now we do feel that Geagea was the smarter guy in all this mess, maybe next time around it would be prudent to listen to him before jumping to conclusions or such immature forays.

Thumb -phoenix1 13 March 2014, 17:08

On a different note, maybe the time is as good as ever now, for every poster in this forum to turn the page and start anew without all the diatribes, without the abrasive, sulfuric and acrimonious language so unnecessary. We are all entitled to our views, no matter how different they may be, maybe we will disagree often, but all I know is a perfectly simple formula, let us not take matters so personally,if it's any comfort, our politicians don't deserve so much zeal and commitment from us all. Just let's debate with openness, serenity and without having to tie that umbilical cord to any political issue. I therefore urge you all, for the sake of elevating this forum to the standard it so much deserves, to listen and let's move forward, please.

Missing helicopter 13 March 2014, 17:33

Thumbs up to phoenix and roar ........
It takes deliberate effort to practice such, as it is easy to slide into the mud slinging. We all (me included) are guilty of practicing one form of negative postings or another, but the aggregate sum is what reveals the true nature of a person.

Missing helicopter 13 March 2014, 17:28

I remember it clearly that it was Berri and Jumblat who insisted on agreeing to Cabinet formation first and leaving the Policy Statement for later. I blame M14 for agreeing to that. Berri and Jumblat are the masters of deception figured they will be able to work their magic into the Statement by making it acceptable and meaningless.