Saniora to Suleiman: No Dialogue with Cabinet that Provides Cover to Murder Suspects
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader Fouad Saniora told President Michel Suleiman that it would be useless to sit at the dialogue table in the presence of a government that gives cover to the suspects in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination, An Nahar daily reported on Sunday.
“What's the point of (engaging in) dialogue in the presence of a government that covers up suspects in ex-PM Rafik Hariri's murder and the assassination attempt of MP Butros Harb,” An Nahar quoted Saniora as telling Suleiman during a meeting they held at Baabda Palace on Saturday.
Saniora visited Baabda in the aftermath of the March 14 opposition alliance's announcement that it would continue to boycott the national dialogue as long as Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government is in power.
Lebanon plunged in a political crisis in October following the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan. March 14 blamed the government for the killing and pointed its finger at Syria.
“The only way out is through the formation of a neutral salvation cabinet that removes tension and overseas the next parliamentary elections,” Saniora reportedly told Suleiman.
“We have repeatedly participated in the (national) dialogue but the other party (March 8 coalition) … rejects commitment,” he said.
Suleiman postponed a new round of all-party talks that were set to be held last Thursday to January 7 after the opposition rejected to take part in the meeting.
An Nahar quoted him as telling Saniora that the Constitution does not give him the authority to change the current government. “It is up to the parliamentary majority” to do so.
Following the meeting, Miqati, who was at the presidential palace, shook hands with Saniora after coming face to face with the head of al-Mustaqbal bloc.
02 December 2012, 09:07
15
One can like M14 as most of us here do, or one can dislike them as some others do but one thing is for sure. What Saniora described is the way things have gone down regarding dialogue in the past. As the saying goes fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. M14 has been fooled one too many times and now rightly refuses to play the old game again.
Time for new rules, ones that M8 must adhere to else perhaps as some have suggested it may be best to start thinking partition.
02 December 2012, 10:54
24
The sunnites during the civil war were antilebanon, pro palestinians. Since then they came of age, and after taef, became pro Lebanon. The chiites need some time, and will in due time (after iran's bankrupcy and assaad's collpase) stop being pro iran and will become pro lebanon.
Once this happens, we have to pick them up, and ENGAGE them in the country running, not marginalize them. This is why dialogue is important.
As for partition, it would be a dream come true. I am tired of waiting for all my medieval copatriots to come of age, and be patient with their experiences and their growing pains. But we need to be strong, armed and united to do it. We are none of these.
02 December 2012, 17:07
12
True... Agree....
People +Army = RESISTANCE
only TWO parts to that equation!!!
02 December 2012, 17:04
13
@lebanonfirst... Just to add... Did you notice that the Zionists use the same tactic with the Palestinians ... Hizbshitan learned well from Mosad... and Iran
Hey not joking do you guy know who was supplying the Iranian Air Force spare parts during the 80s war with Iraq ... An Israeli company...
02 December 2012, 17:16
03
"Federation should NOT be related to religion" but it is what would happen if you do that...
the only thing to do for lebanon is to forbid the religious people to meddle with politics. to have a unique civil law for all lebanese and not a religious law for each community. to ban all religious parties. and sanction any priest cardinal cheikh who talk about politics! and of course one army which would be the only body to have weapons !
02 December 2012, 17:23
02
Not partition man its still one country!!! like Canada ... Study the power structure of the Canadian provinces with in a national frame work...
Example every Canadian province in Canada has veto power over the federal government if the federal government passes a national law... The province can veto such a law to NOT apply to the province but still will be law in any Provence that chooses not to veto.
02 December 2012, 22:43
00
lebcan where do you get your information that provinces have veto power over federal laws in canada. That is balony, there are many matters which are left to the federal government which the provinces can not veto over, one example is the charter of rights.
02 December 2012, 16:35
15
accordionman ,,,,, the 10452 (the slogan of Bashir Gemayel) is very different from the 10452 you have in mind. The former is one of strong state and army, sovereign country, marked borders,civilized 21st century mentality of civil behavior etc. ...... just the opposite of your vision (Mullahs, resistance, dark age mentality on cults and sacrifice, trading brainwashing followers in God's name, and so on). Which is why any lebanonfirst or lebanon_first mentality became hopeless and start thinking of partition.
02 December 2012, 17:14
22
I'm a M14 supporter but I do not support Said Harriri because he is a cowered... Sorry Said you should not be scared you should be here with us and supporting your people with your presence... I won't vote for you, I will vote for M14 though but not with you as its leader unless you do better than Hassen Shitan and come out of the hole in the ground.!!!
02 December 2012, 17:18
13
Ya why not AGREE... Like Canada with its provinces or the USA with its states...
And for those who think lebanon is too small to be split along provincial lines well I say look at the smallest country in the world, its the size of Beirut ... Singapore ???
