MP Nicolas accuses Sisson of thwarting the agreement over the government

Source: nowlebanon.com, 28-06-2008

MP Nabil Nicolas of the Change and Reform bloc accused US Charge d'Affaires in Lebanon Michele Sisson of thwarting the agreement that was reached yesterday over the establishment of the government.

"The (so-called) 'majority' will not give MP Michel Aoun anything, in spite of the facilitation he [Aoun] is offering," Nicolas told the NBN Television.

"The FPM and Aoun have facilitated the election of President Michel Suleiman. They have also accepted Saniora as prime minister in spite of their reservations in this regard," he added.

Nicolas stressed the FPM's right to be given a sovereign ministry. "However, we agreed to drop this demand. Yet, every time we agree over something, the 'majority' revokes the agreement."

Commenting on the establishment of the government, Nicolas said that PM Fouad Saniora noted the existence of a problem within 'March 14' (ruling bloc) in this regard.

"Saniora said he cannot give neither Justice or Public Work ministries to Aoun, after he had offered him Telecommunication or Justice Ministries," Nicolas declared.

"The (so-called) 'majority' will not accept our participation in the government for they know we will be a watchdog over financial squander," he added.

"Let them try to establish a government without Aoun," Nicolas said.

Yesterday, Nicolas confirmed his optimism on the national unity government formation, as his opponents had accepted the opposition's active participation in the government after they had tried to push General Michel Aoun out of the cabinet.

Nicolas denied any truth to press rumors on possible ministers in the new cabinet, but attributed the progress to the earnest efforts that began on Friday, when he visited President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri on behalf of his bloc.

"We hope that the government will see the light in the next 48 to 72 hours," Nicolas told TeleLiban.