Miqati Confident Berri Would Overcome Policy Statement Controversy
Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati has expressed confidence in Speaker Nabih Berri's ability to overcome the obstacle of the new government's policy statement.
“I am confident that Speaker Nabih Berri is capable through his wisdom and follow up to find the appropriate solution to this issue,” Miqati said in remarks to Lebanese and Kuwaiti journalists at the Lebanese Embassy in Kuwait on Tuesday night.
The March 8 alliance and mainly Berri have called for keeping discussions on the policy statement until after the formation of the cabinet. He has also stuck to the army-people-resistance formula.
But the March 14 camp, which has struck a deal with its rivals on several of the government's aspects, has insisted on having the Baabda Declaration as the basis of the policy statement.
Asked whether the strong efforts exerted to form the cabinet were the result of international developments, Miqati said: “Definitely there is something of that sort, mainly the Iranian agreement with the West” on Tehran's nuclear program.
“The details that are being discussed take some time,” he said. “If no changes occur in that regard, then I believe the new cabinet will be formed.”
Miqati, who is in Kuwait to represent Lebanon at the second donor conference for Syrian refugees, warned that the country lied on “the line of regional and international earthquakes.”
“We should work on confronting them as much as we can,” he said.
Asked about the presidential elections, Miqati told the reporters “we would have crossed a major stage to hold the polls on time if the new cabinet was formed soon.”
President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends in May.
The caretaker premier also discussed with the reporters about Lebanon’s dissociation policy.
“Unfortunately, we have been involved deeply in the regional turmoil and mainly the Syrian conflict,” he said.
“That's why the dissociation policy is the best option to protect our nation,” he added.
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