The committee tasked with drafting the new cabinet’s policy statement agreed on its general framework and discussed controversial issues such as Lebanon’s international commitments and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, PM Najib Miqati’s sources said.

The sources told al-Mustaqbal daily on Friday that the committee agreed in its first meeting that each minister would prepare his own vision on the ministerial statement and would propose it during the next session.

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Syrian Social National Party chief MP Assaad Hardan have said that the new majority should be fully responsible in making much anticipated achievements.

A joint statement said that Nasrallah met with Hardan, who was accompanied by Qassem Saleh, in the presence of Hizbullah official Mahmoud Qomati.

A high-ranking Lebanese army delegation headed by Maj. Gen. Abdel Rahman Shehaitly is holding talks with top U.S. officials during a routine visit to Washington, An Nahar daily reported Friday.

The newspaper said that the delegation met on Wednesday with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jacob Walles, and Colin Kahl, who is the deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East.

President Michel Suleiman is expected to visit Syria after the adoption of the cabinet’s policy statement and parliament’s vote of confidence, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Friday.

Suleiman is reportedly said to visit Syria to meet his counterpart President Bashar Assad.

President Michel Suleiman is “seriously” mulling to re-launch the national dialogue to discuss the country’s defense strategy and economic issues, Baabda palace sources told As Safir daily.

The sources said in remarks published Friday that Suleiman is considering sending invitations to the country’s political leaders after the new cabinet receives parliament’s vote of confidence.

U.S. Congressman Howard Berman has introduced the Hizbullah Anti-Terrorism Act (HATA) that sets rigorous requirements for the provision of foreign assistance to Lebanon during periods when the Shiite party is part of the majority governing coalition.

The cosponsors of HATA include three Congressmen of Lebanese origin -Darrell Issa, Charles Boustany, and Nick Rahall.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Thursday stressed that he was not pressured into announcing the line-up of his long-awaited cabinet, which saw light on Monday after around five months of arduous negotiations.

“I swear to God I did not receive any phone call concerning cabinet formation on Sunday and only six people knew about the cabinet line-up, so I went to the presidential palace and said I won’t leave without announcing a cabinet line-up and I hope the Lebanese will support the new government,” Miqati said during an interview on LBC television.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesman Marten Youssef stated that Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen is still studying Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare’s indictment, stressing that the release of the indictment has nothing to do with the developments in Lebanon and the region.

He told Sada al-Balad in remarks to be published on Friday that the beginning of the trial proceedings are connected to the release of the indictment and the amendments that were introduced to it.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Andrea Tenenti stated on Thursday that the international troops were deployed in Lebanon at the request of the Lebanese authorities.

He said in a statement: “The Lebanese were in national agreement over UNIFIL’s functioning and U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is scheduled to travel to Rome on Sunday to take part in church activity and a synod held at the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI.

The Patriarch is expected to meet the Pope to discuss various church issues, as well as the latest developments in Lebanon and Syria.