Suleiman Pleased that Cabinet Back on Right Track

President Michel Suleiman hailed the government for going back on track after approving plans to resolve the electricity crisis and calling for an audit on the 2006-2010 extra-budgetary spending.

“We could say that the cabinet’s productivity is on the right track…amid lack of tension” between its different members, Suleiman told As Safir daily published Saturday.

Asked about the national dialogue, the president said: “I will be in total readiness when the parties feel that they need dialogue.”

He slammed certain sides, however, for imposing their conditions on the all-party talks at Baabda Palace and betting on the collapse or the victory of the Syrian regime in its one-year deadly crackdown on protestors.

“This is incompatible with the reasons behind (the call for) internal dialogue,” Suleiman told As Safir.

He stressed that the agenda of the talks would be the continuation of discussions on the country’s defense strategy and the issue of Hizbullah’s arms on how, when and where they would be used.

But the president rejected any attempt to discuss part of the agenda and neglect the other part.

Asked about the situation in Syria, Suleiman reiterated that Lebanon should always play the conciliatory role between the Arab countries.

“I support the success of the role of international envoy Kofi Annan,” he told the newspaper, saying he would encourage the Syrian leadership with helping the former U.N. chief successfully implement his mission.

“I care about civil peace, security and stability in Syria,” he said, hoping that the solution would be in favor of democracy.

The United Nations is making plans for a Syria ceasefire observer mission if hostilities are halted, but the Damascus government has not even approved sending officials for talks, U.N. officials said.

The preliminary planning for the force is part of contacts between U.N.-Arab League envoy Annan and President Bashar Assad's government.