Salam Holds onto Dialogue, Hints he Would Stick to Cabinet Session Agenda

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has stressed that dialogue remained the only option to resolve the country's lingering crises and hinted that he would stick to the agenda of a cabinet session he has called for despite the reservations of the Free Patriotic Movement.

“Dialogue was and will remain the bridge to all desired solutions,” Salam said in remarks published in several local newspapers on Monday.

He said dialogue preserves the interests of all Lebanese factions and “guarantees an exit from the series of crises” striking the country.

Salam was referring to the all-party talks and to the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement that are scheduled to be held separately on Monday.

Asked about Thursday's cabinet session, Salam said he would stick to its agenda which has 140 items. But he stressed that he would “not mind” to discuss issues from outside the agenda if there was consensus on them.

The premier tried to distance himself from the controversial issue of military and security appointments, saying he was only seeking to revive the work of the government on procedural issues.

“It is up to the political parties to resolve huge political and controversial issues, including the vacancy in military, security and administrative posts,” he said.

Despite Salam's optimism, it was not yet clear if the session would be successful and if all its members would attend.

FPM sources told As Safir daily that the movement's stances have not changed.

“The FPM links its participation in (cabinet) sessions to the willingness to discuss the issue of appointments … and the mechanism of the government,” they said.

FPM official Education Minister Elias Bou Saab also hinted to al-Liwaa daily that the movement's ministers could boycott the session.

He hoped an understanding would be reached by Thursday without further elaboration.

The cabinet last met in December to approve a plan to export Lebanon's waste. But it has failed to hold regular sessions because of the dispute on the decision-making mechanism in the absence of a president and the appointments.

G.K.

D.A.