Miqati: Various Proposals on New Govt. are Complicating Salam's Mission

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati noted that the various initiatives being proposed to form a government are only complicating Premier-designate Tammam Salam's mission, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily: “The proposals only complicate his mission because they vary between one camp and the other.”

Moreover, he said that the rival March 8 and 14 camps are each banking on the developments in Syria in a hope that its outcome will fall in their favor.

Addressing calls for the resumption of national dialogue, Miqati said: “Despite all sides' demands for a return to the all-party talks, no one is actually taking practical steps to that end.”

On Friday, Development and Liberation bloc MPs met with President Michel Suleiman and Miqati to brief them on Speaker Nabih Berri's “roadmap” on the new government and the national dialogue.

The speaker has called for the resumption of national dialogue at the Baabda palace for a period of at least five consecutive days to discuss the form and policy statement of the future cabinet.

He said Salam should attend the talks that bring together the March 8 and 14 alliances.

He also called for reviving talks on a new electoral law, supporting the military to deal with arms proliferated in several regions and addressing a national defense strategy, a reference to Hizbullah's arms.