Hizbullah Calls for Calm Dialogue to Finalize Cabinet Formation

Source: almanar.com.lb, 27-08-2009

Two months have passed since MP Saad Hariri was appointed as Prime Minister-Designate. Yet, the much-awaited "partnership" cabinet didn't see light yet...

On Thursday, Hizbullah renewed calls for all rival blocs to accelerate consultations and talks to guarantee the cabinet formation as soon as possible.

In this context, Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on the importance of adopting calm dialogue between all political parties in order to reach a formula that would be accepted by everyone.

Speaking during an Iftar organized by Hizbullah, Sheikh Qassem warned that challenging any of the demands requested by the different blocs would complicate the cabinet formation process.

His eminence said that all sides want a government to be formed following a set of mechanisms adopted in the formation process. "The sole issue today is that of the government formation. The issue is not to bring back the past or lay the foundations for future strategies," Sheikh Qassem said. "Each political speech has its repercussions be it by top officials, their supporters or their followers," his eminence added.

Sheikh Qassem said steps in the formation process were well known, "first comes the formula, followed by the distribution of portfolios, the nomination of ministers, the ministerial declaration and finally the vote of confidence."

"The formula has been agreed on and has been reaffirmed by all those who want accord in this country and all those who see in it a solution," his eminence said.

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General added that consensus was "more powerful than attempts by some to place obstacles in the way of accord." Therefore, his eminence said, "the second and third steps should be the next natural steps in the sequence of things for shape up a government."

"We are now standing before a government of national unity, which is a good thing for everybody. We are standing before political agreement over a formula, which is also positive. We must continue in the same direction and this is the duty if the person who is following up the formation based on the constitution and without any amendments to the privileges," Sheikh Qassem said. "We will see if each one is carrying out the required tasks," his eminence added.

For his part, member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah said that Hizbullah contacts with PM-Designate Saad Hariri are aimed at removing obstacles to dialogue that would lead to cabinet formation.

MP Fadlallah stressed that calm dialogue was the fundamental entry to activate the cabinet formation process, calling on all political parties to stick to dialogue in order to achieve satisfactory results.