Saniora Holds Onto Stance on Cabinet and Dialogue as Aoun Says he'll be the 1st to Attend

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora has told members of Speaker Nabih Berri's bloc that the national dialogue is not a constitutional institution during a meeting described as “important.”

An Nahar daily on Tuesday quoted officials close to Saniora as describing the 90-minute meeting with the Development and Liberation bloc as “important.”

The talks focused on an initiative made by Berri to resolve the country's political crisis.

An Nahar quoted Saniora as telling the delegation that al-Mustaqbal encourages dialogue but insisted on keeping the issue of cabinet formation away from the all-party talks.

“The national dialogue should not be turned into a constitutional institution, which it isn't,” Saniora reportedly told the MPs.

He reiterated that it was up to President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam to form the cabinet after which the head of state would call for a national dialogue session to discuss Hizbullah's arms and the party's participation in the fighting in Syria.

Berri's roadmap focuses on a five-day dialogue conclave held by the rival March 8 and March 14 camps at Baabda Palace under Suleiman and with the participation of Salam.

His proposal lies in discussing the form and policy statement of the future cabinet, reviving talks on a new electoral law, supporting the military to deal with arms proliferated in several regions, in addition to addressing a national defense strategy, a reference to Hizbullah's arms.

Monday's talks between Saniora and the Development and Liberation bloc ended with an agreement to brief Berri on the results of the discussions and continue the dialogue through direct meetings between the speaker and Saniora, An Nahar said.

The delegation also met with Change and Reform bloc leader, MP Michel Aoun, on Monday as part of its tour on top officials and parliamentary blocs to brief them on Berri's initiative.

The head of the delegation, MP Yassine Jaber, told An Nahar that Aoun “welcomed Berri's initiative and confirmed that he would be the first to attend the dialogue.”

Jaber also described the meeting with Saniora and several other al-Mustaqbal lawmakers as “honest,” saying “dialogue with al-Mustaqbal hasn't and wouldn’t end.”