Wahhab: Saniora must apologize to the whole Lebanese people for being Olmert’s partner in 2006 War

Source: nowlebanon.com, 19/20-06-2008

Former Minister Wiam Wahhab was interviewed by Al-Manar Television this morning.
Wahhab commented saying, "Minister Walid Jumblatt must be held accountable for his mistakes, not any other Druze PSP member. The Taif Agreement is dead because of the US-Saudi dispute. Let us look for a new one."

Wahhab added, "PM Saniora must apologize to the whole Lebanese people for being [‘Israeli' PM] Ehud Olmert's partner in the 2006 July War."

Wahhab also considered that, "The problem over the government is not about vetoing candidates but about divvying up ministerial portfolios. If the president wants Elias Murr as minister, the opposition will not object, but that would require an agreement being reached on the army commander and other positions."

He added, "The US is not done yet with Lebanon, but it is seeking calm in the region because of the US presidential elections."

On the issue of the government formation he said, "What do we have in common with the majority that we can use as the basis for a national-unity government? We cannot reach a consensus with them. Either they win, or we defeat them."

Yesterday Former Minister Wiam Wahhab said he hoped to see regional powerbroker Saudi Arabia "withdraw from [Lebanese] internal affairs and leave us alone."

Wahhab said the government formation was still far off in light of the attempts at cornering Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun as "a reaction to what Aoun achieved in Doha."

After meeting with former President Emile Lahoud, Wahhab said Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah would never betray Aoun, their opposition ally, in the subject of government.

"A sovereign ministry is the right of Michel Aoun, and without this ministry there is no sovereign government. The opposition is preparing for another stage another and another step, and is ready to deal a disciplinary blow to anyone who tries to topple the Doha agreement," he stated.

Wahhab said he found the pro-government alliance's "sudden concern" on the liberation of Shibaa Farms strange. He emphasized that there would be no end to the matter if the collateral was the disarmament of Hizbullah.