Opposition Backs Dialogue Expansion "Pro-Government" divided!
Source: Al-Manar TV, 03-11-2008
Less than forty-eight hours to go... and the national dialogue conference will convene once more!
Indeed, the Baabda Presidential Palace is set to witness on Wednesday the "re-vivification" of the Lebanese national dialogue under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and amid fears that the "unsettled" expansion issue might cause another "crisis" that could lead even to the "deterioration" of the complete dialogue roundtable...
Hours before the session takes place, rival factions seem always to differ widely over the issue. Actually, while the so-called pro-government bloc was divided over the issue with some of its figures "rejecting" the mere discussion of the idea despite the calls from here and there and others "hesitating," the opposition seems to be determined to back the expansion as a "serious necessity" as the interlocutors are set to discuss national sensitive topics, at the top of which reigns the country's defensive strategy.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman raised the issue when he declared that he backs a "short and limited expansion," setting, however, the "consensus" of the fourteen dialogue members as a "condition"; a consensus that doesn't seem available yet!
However, Suleiman's declaration brought hopes back for many of Lebanese prominent figures who believe they have the right to be represented in such dialogue table, such as former Prime Minister Omar Karami, Youth Minister Talal Arslan, former minister Suleiman Franjieh, MP Oussama Saad and others.
However, many of the so-called pro-government forces seem to have closed too early the door before those figures to think of joining them in the next dialogue sessions such as Future Movement MP Saad Hariri who declared more than once his firm refusal of the mere discussion of the idea, claiming that everyone was represented in the actual configuration. But the doors are not actually closed yet as Hariri's allies are still stressing the issue would be finalized during Wednesday's session, contradicting Hariri's view. For instance, the head of the Phalange party former President Amin Gemayel said he doesn't mind expanding the table if those who are set to join were at the size of former minister Suleiman Franjieh. For his part, the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt does not have a problem with the expansion, but stresses that he favors consensus over the issue in order for all interlocutors not to lose previous winning points.
Yet, Future Movement MP Serges Tor Serkissian doesn't see any usefulness in expanding the dialogue roundtable.
Speaking to Al-Manar, he wondered about the "added value" which would be given by adding some figures who were not represented in the Doha talks to the actual interlocutors. He explained that he didn't find any feasibility in the expansion proposal, wondering whether it was aiming at delaying profound discussions.
But the Marada movement spokesman Suleiman Franjieh found in Serkissian and Hariri's words a first signal that "the other bloc doesn't want the dialogue to be fruitful and productive."
Less than forty-eight hours to go... and the national dialogue conference will convene once more!
Indeed, the Baabda Presidential Palace is set to witness on Wednesday the "re-vivification" of the Lebanese national dialogue under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and amid fears that the "unsettled" expansion issue might cause another "crisis" that could lead even to the "deterioration" of the complete dialogue roundtable...
Hours before the session takes place, rival factions seem always to differ widely over the issue. Actually, while the so-called pro-government bloc was divided over the issue with some of its figures "rejecting" the mere discussion of the idea despite the calls from here and there and others "hesitating," the opposition seems to be determined to back the expansion as a "serious necessity" as the interlocutors are set to discuss national sensitive topics, at the top of which reigns the country's defensive strategy.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman raised the issue when he declared that he backs a "short and limited expansion," setting, however, the "consensus" of the fourteen dialogue members as a "condition"; a consensus that doesn't seem available yet!
However, Suleiman's declaration brought hopes back for many of Lebanese prominent figures who believe they have the right to be represented in such dialogue table, such as former Prime Minister Omar Karami, Youth Minister Talal Arslan, former minister Suleiman Franjieh, MP Oussama Saad and others.
However, many of the so-called pro-government forces seem to have closed too early the door before those figures to think of joining them in the next dialogue sessions such as Future Movement MP Saad Hariri who declared more than once his firm refusal of the mere discussion of the idea, claiming that everyone was represented in the actual configuration. But the doors are not actually closed yet as Hariri's allies are still stressing the issue would be finalized during Wednesday's session, contradicting Hariri's view. For instance, the head of the Phalange party former President Amin Gemayel said he doesn't mind expanding the table if those who are set to join were at the size of former minister Suleiman Franjieh. For his part, the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt does not have a problem with the expansion, but stresses that he favors consensus over the issue in order for all interlocutors not to lose previous winning points.
Yet, Future Movement MP Serges Tor Serkissian doesn't see any usefulness in expanding the dialogue roundtable.
Speaking to Al-Manar, he wondered about the "added value" which would be given by adding some figures who were not represented in the Doha talks to the actual interlocutors. He explained that he didn't find any feasibility in the expansion proposal, wondering whether it was aiming at delaying profound discussions.
But the Marada movement spokesman Suleiman Franjieh found in Serkissian and Hariri's words a first signal that "the other bloc doesn't want the dialogue to be fruitful and productive."
Speaking to Al-Manar, Franjieh pointed out that the expansion call was serious, stressing on the need to represent the Druze and Sunni opposition at the dialogue table. "The Maronite opposition is, no doubt, represented through the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun," he highlighted.
In all cases, the final answer concerning the national dialogue expansion is not expected before Wednesday's session. According to reports, the President would raise the issue and the interlocutors would take their decision. And until this moment, mutual "wars" would continue between rival factions over this topic!
