Sheikh Qassem: Hizbullah Only Committed to Cabinet Formula

 
Source: almanar.com.lb, 20-08-2009

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem denied on Thursday that Hizbullah committed itself to anything other than the reached ministerial formula, which grants the parliamentary majority 15 ministers, the national opposition 10 and the president five.

Speaking during a ceremony organized by Hizbullah in the southern suburb of Beirut, Sheikh Qassem stressed that Hizbullah has the necessary courage to publicly declare its commitments. "We won't act like those who claim what is not true and speak in a way that causes confusion just to hide the real obstacles that are hindering the cabinet formation," his eminence emphasized.

"It is now Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's turn to hold talks with all parliamentary blocs in order to reach an agreement on the names of the prospective ministers and the distribution of portfolios," Sheikh Qassem pointed out.

His eminence slammed politicians who claim that Hizbullah has made other commitments, accusing them of creating tension in the country. "Be courageous and talk about the real obstacles that are present within your bloc or outside it, but generalizing the issue won't benefit you anymore," Sheikh Qassem told those politicians.

"Blaming the opposition, and especially Hizbullah and General Michel Aoun, is useless," his eminence said, warning that forming the cabinet in this way is not possible. "What actually facilitates the cabinet formation process is only direct dialogue between the PM-Designate and each parliamentary bloc," Sheikh Qassem emphasized.

"We are ready to consolidate the consensus," Sheikh Qassem said. "Lebanon needs true partnership, and we are a part of this partnership. But every side has to assume its responsibility and not hold the others responsible."