Report: Hizbullah Says Everyone in Trouble, We Need Solutions Not Discord

Hizbullah stressed on Saturday that it aimed to control the situation when it boycotted the latest cabinet meeting in solidarity with its ally the Free Patriotic Movement, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Saturday.

Hizbullah MP Ali Fayyad said that when Hizbullah decided to boycott the cabinet meeting, “it planned to do so out of keenness to control and address the situation and not to escalate things any further.”

“The party is taking advantage of every minute to solve the problem of the cabinet. We still have around ten days before the holidays are over and Prime Minister Tammam Salam returns from a trip abroad. During this period the efforts must be put together in order to find a solution,” said Fayyad.

Emphasizing that Hizbullah is keen on the cabinet to resume its normal course of work, Fayyad added: “The rule for us is that the government should resume its work efficiently and in a balanced manner. The dialogue table must also convene so as to help the Lebanese solve their problems.”

“Everyone is in trouble. The situation needs solutions not confrontations and escalation,” the MP went on to say.

On Thursday, the cabinet convened at the Grand Serail in the presence of 16 ministers and the absence of the FPM, Tashnaq and Hizbullah ministers.

The FPM decided to boycott the cabinet meetings over the thorny issue of military and security appointments. Furthermore, it has accused the political parties of failing to conform to the National Pact when they meet in the absence of the FPM ministers.

Hizbullah on the other hand boycotted the meeting in solidarity with its Christian ally.

The FPM has also decided early this week to boycott the all-party talks which prompted Speaker Nabih Berri to suspend future meetings.