Salam Says Cabinet Formation Not Linked to STL Trial
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has denied that the formation of the government had any links to the start of the trial in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination case on Thursday.
Salam confirmed in remarks to As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday that there was progress in the formation of the cabinet as soon as possible.
“The line-up will be announced, when we reach an agreement on the cabinet formula and all its details,” he said.
“We will neither wait the international tribunal nor any other event,” Salam told the daily.
Reports have said that the March 8 alliance had been procrastinating on the formation of the cabinet pending the start of the in absentia trial of four Hizbullah members by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in Hariri's Feb. 2005 murder.
Salam confirmed that the rival March 8 and 14 camps had agreed on the 8-8-8 cabinet formula, the rotation of portfolios and giving the authority to President Michel Suleiman and himself to choose the ministers.
But the details on the policy statement and the commitment to the Baabda Declaration are still under discussion, he said.
Salam expressed optimism, saying there has been a “speedy progress” in the latest consultations.
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