(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati launches consultations with Parliamentary blocs over the new government at the Parliament.
Mikati on Wednesday met with former Prime Ministers Rashid Solh, Michel Aoun, Omar Karami, Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri. He discussed with them the form of the cabinet he seeks to form.
Mikati ‘s meeting with Hariri lasted for only three minutes. An-Nahar daily commented on the meetig as saying: “The fleeting meeting between PM Mikati and acting PM Saad Hariri was characterized by obvious gloominess and lasted no more than three minutes. It thus epitomized the repercussions and complications of the latest developments.”
TAKING PART IN NEW GOVERNMENTAn-Nahar quoted sources as saying, that the March 14 coalition will determine its stance on the new cabinet based on how the prime minister designate will describe to March 14 forces his vision about the cabinet’s size, mission, commitments and representation.The daily reported that the General Secretariat of the March 14 Coalition took a firm stance on the latest developments.
The daily added that the coalition had said: “this period is starting under the aegis of two headlines, namely supporting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and disarmament all over Lebanon.”
Future movement officials said on Wednesday that their final word over the participation in the government would be taken following the meeting between the bloc and Mikati.A key leader in the Future Movement told Al-Akhbar daily that two conflicting opinions are clashing with one another within the Future bloc. The first one, led by former PM Fouad Siniora, “believes in the importance of taking part in the cabinet if they obtain the guaranteeing one-third [of votes].”
According to the same source, the daily continued,the second opinion, led by acting PM Saad Hariri, “absolutely refuses to take part in Mikati’s cabinet or any other government, and believes in the need to form a parliamentary and street opposition and to focus [its] attention on organizing the Future Movement.”
FRANCE AND MIKATIAs-Safir daily reported that the Elysée started to accept the idea of Hariri’s not being a prime minister anymore when the Saudi-Syrian initiative failed.According to sources in Paris, the daily added, the French presidency “considers Mikati “an acceptable compromise candidate, especially since he is backed by Saudi Arabia and has a network of Arab, French and international relations that strongly played in his favor when chosen as a compromise candidate.”
FETLMAN MEETINGS: WASHINGTON MINESAs-Safir considered that Mikati is to face Washington’s mines during the formation of the new government.“Mikati starts the [cabinet] formation journey with mines from Washington … and Hariri,” the daily said in the headlines.As-Safir learned from same sources in Paris that the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman expressed in Paris Washington’s stance, whereby PM Mikati was designated under pressure, adding that it is necessary to “cut losses at this stage and obtain commitments from Mikati.”
The daily added that Feltman met March 14 figures in Paris. “Far from limiting his visit to Paris to meetings with French officials, Feltman summoned several March 14 figures to boost their morale and give them advice.”The sources didn’t mention who were these figures, but it was known that MP Marwan Hamadeh and Defense Minister Elias al-Murr arrived the day before last in Paris, the daily said.
End item/ 129
