EU To Cooperate, Feltman in Beirut?
House Speaker Nabih Berri famous hammer finally hit the table declaring the three days show is off. But before the Parliament brought down its curtains, one can witness the final scene: "March 14's" threats turned to air bubbles and Prime Minister's Najib Mikati's government won confidence.
March 14's Movements, Internal shakes
Moments after the opposition MPs walked out, PM Najib Mikati's government secured 68 out of 128 votes in parliament.
"The initiative of "March 14" to leave the council's hall at the moment of the vote of confidence, made the opposition lose its voice's moral value as well as to lose the opportunity to speak and face the government directly by clearly saying "no confidence"," "as-Safir" Lebanese news paper said.
A similar flagrant note was manifested in the confusion that has emerged in the ranks of "March 14" forces in parallel of cohesion shown by the majority‘s front:
MP Michel Murr attended the granting of trust.
MP Imad al-Hout, announced abstained from voting.
MP Robert Ghanem declined to vote no-confidence surpassing "March 14".
"National Struggle Front" Leader MP Walid Jumblatt commented on the withdrawal of the March 14 MPs by saying, "this is democracy and the most important thing is that the government received the vote of confidence."
For his part, the head of "Marada" MP Suleiman Franjieh announced that the
majority is ready for reconciliation and openness," hoping that "the new opposition show sportsmanship and assets of the democratic game,"
"We are always open to dialogue and ready to serve," he stressed.
Mikati: No Negotiations over Justice
In his speech to parliament Thursday, Mikati stated that his government does not negotiate over justice in order to stay in power, and that he works with conscious and loyalty to late PM Rafik Hariri. PM Mikati reassured his commitment to the policy statement, indicating that "some statements were unrealistic and irrational... and no one can claim that we were responsible for the incidents in Lebanon in the past few years."
"The government did not abandon the martyrs' blood... it was shameful to say that the government abandoned the martyrs' blood. I refuse such biddings. I'm not someone who negotiates over justice to stay in power, nor someone who abandoned any martyr who fell for defending Lebanon... PM Rafiq Hariri was not a martyr for a political movement or a sect. I refuse to retreat from executing right and justice," PM emphasized.
In the session, Head of "Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc" MP Mohammad Raad affirmed that "the formed Mikati government is strictly Lebanese, and is not a one-party-rule or monochromic as some parties claim."
Raad: Indictment Politicized
MP Raad stated that "this government will never hesitate in encountering the Zionist entity, which on its part is now targeting the Lebanese government through the politicized STL.
Regarding the STL indictment issued in light of the issuance of the ministerial statement, Head of Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc affirmed, "the indictment is politicized and aims at targeting the government which is adhering to the tripartite solidarity equation of resistance, people, and army".
EU Comments
In the first foreign reaction to the vote of confidence, EU foreign policy Chief Catherine told "an-Nahar" Lebanese daily that "the confidence vote will enable Lebanon to respond to the political and economic challenges it is facing."
"I take note of the government's ministerial declaration which highlights the importance of deepening relations with the European Union. The EU is ready to further develop its partnership with Lebanon and support the much needed reforms," she said.
"Achieving international justice and preserving stability in Lebanon are mutually reinforcing goals," she said, adding that "the EU expects Mikati's cabinet to uphold all its international obligations."
Feltman in Beirut?
Meanwhile, An American administration official may visit Beirut next week in order to hold talks with Lebanese officials to determine the United States' position on the new government, reported the Central News Agency on Thursday.
"The official is likely to be U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman, will hold talks with President Michel Suleiman and PM Najib Mikati and a number of other figures," "Naharnet" website clarified.
However, doubts are raised on the man's expected visit after the government's confidence parallel to the STL "Israeli" backed
