Stances Surge on Gov’t Impasse…New Political Phase Following Government Resignation, No Violence Foreseen

Following the resignation of 11 ministers and the collapse of the unity government in Lebanon, a new political phase starts in Lebanon on Thursday. For "Etiquette" reasons, the Lebanese President postponed declaring the government's resignation as its resigned PM is overseas. But soon, Thursday morning, President Michel Suleiman accepted the resignation and called on the ministerial council to continue in as caretaker until a new government is formed.

Suleiman's office released the following statement: "In line with clause one of article 69 in the Lebanese constitution on the circumstances under which the government is considered to have resigned, and as the government has lost more than one third of its members, his Excellency, has requested the cabinet act as a caretaker government until the formation of a new government."
Stances and statements rained following the resignation of the Lebanese government.

The White House released a sharp statement after the Obama-Hariri talks lashing out at Hizbullah as "demonstrating their own fear and determination to block the government's ability to conduct its business and advance the aspirations of all of the Lebanese people."
Hariri, on his part remained silent, and was not triggered at all by the resignation. In fact, he made no statement and left Washington for Paris to meet the French President Nicolas Sarkouzy. 

The French President "reaffirmed his support for Lebanese authorities and institutions," adding that he had also called for concerted global efforts to help "Lebanon overcome this delicate phase."
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, like her President threw support behind the PM Hariri, and reaffirmed the work of the politicized international tribunal. Hours after the collapse in Beirut, Clinton met with Arab foreign ministers who had gathered for a conference in Qatar.

As for Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu, he discussed the latest Lebanese developments with Hariri over the phone on Wednesday, according to a diplomatic source quoted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Syrian President Bahsar Al Assad called his Lebanese counterpart Suleiman, where both discussed the latest developments, reported the National News Agency without any further information.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani stressed there will be no agreement as the "Doha 2" to solve the crisis in Lebanon. However, he said "we're thinking of the Taef (Accord) and 'Doha 1' and of how to activate them and make them function properly."

Jordanian Foreign Minister, Naser Jawdat confirmed on Thursday Jordan's adherence to supporting Lebanon and preserving its national unity, stability and security. He also said "we are closely following up the situation in Lebanon", calling on the Lebanese sides to avoid escalation.

European Union's Foreign Politics and Security Representative Catherine Ashton's Bureau stressed the EU's continued support of a Lebanese national unity cabinet.
"Dialogue is the main road leading towards a solution to the prevailing situation," Ashton said, stressing on the importance of preserving the nation's security and stability in what benefits the Lebanese people's interest.

Italian Foreign Ministry urged all sides to work on preserving peace and stability so as to solve the current crisis via dialogue and avoid resorting to violence.
It also confirmed that Lebanon's destiny is of major importance to the international community and to all countries that have committed within the UNIFIL to defend Lebanon.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa sounded apprehensive when speaking to a crowd of journalists on Thursday about the situation in Lebanon, depicting it as "dangerous". "We are all so worried. We don't want Lebanon to go back to the starting point," he said, describing the situation as tensed and dangerous.

"Sabotage and obstruction by America and the Zionist regime are the main cause of the failure of Syrian and Saudi efforts to find a solution for the current situation in Lebanon," Raouf Sheibani, Iran's deputy minister for the Middle East said.

On his part, Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Roknabadi, said that the U.S. government did not favor the establishment of peace and stability in Lebanon, so tried to obstruct the measures aimed at achieving stability in Lebanon.

"The Americans and "Israelis" have always sought to undermine the regional peace, and since the time this plan (Saudi-Syrian initiative) was proposed for Lebanon's stability made efforts to sabotage the plan and apparently have been successful (to achieve their goals)," he stated.

Local press predicted an open-ended political crisis as the government collapsed but downplayed the chance of renewed violence "in the immediate future."

"Lebanon entered a new phase yesterday, an open-ended one characterized by a profound and long-term political and governmental crisis," read the editorial in As-Safir daily.
"This month will be the month of crises and unpleasant surprises," it added.

An-Nahar daily warned in its editorial "No easy way out of Lebanon's new political crisis. No one is under the illusion that the open crisis will come to an end anytime soon, particularly as the opposition resigned from government as a pre-emptive strike before the tribunal issues its indictments."