Fadlallah blasts delay in forming cabinet

Source: Daily Star, 09-06-2008

TIBNIN: Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah said on Sunday during a commemorative ceremony held in Tibnin that "stalling the cabinet's formation is nothing but an attempt to destroy the newfound principle of universal participation resulting from the Doha agreement."

However, Fadlallah added that the delay regarding the cabinet would not prevent the Doha accord's implementation.

However, he warned that any violation of the agreement would have negative effects, and he called on Lebanese leaders to act responsibly and form a government immediately.

"The parliamentary (so-called) 'majority', which had a year and a half of illusions of domination before being let down by the international community, will not be able to get out of this agreement," said Fadlallah.

Fadlallah denounced the attempt by the leaders of the parliamentary majority to run the country on their own, saying that this time they will have to share power.

Fadlallah also said that the slow formation of the new government was due to the 'Ruling Block' (US backed bloc) parliamentary bloc's efforts to ask for foreign intervention, as well as the differences within the same camp over distributing the different portfolios in the new cabinet.

"There should be a fair representation for all the parties," said Fadlallah, adding that the opposition had maintained a positive attitude ever since the Qatar-mediated settlement in order to help achieving national reconciliation.

Fadlallah accused the ruling 'majority' of provoking the country's problems, saying that "security is not a political product to be used to attract followers."

He also stressed the importance of Lebanon having a stable summer season so the populace could work in peace.