ROUND-UP 30-10-2009
The government formation process didn't witness any progress yesterday, although a unifying call for forming the government as soon as possible. Aoun seems to be the primary negotiator after the retreat of president Sleiman as Hariri falls short of breakthrough in government-formation efforts.
Al Akhbar
Titles
Government formation negotiations "consider solutions."
The government [goes] to Saad and the Future [Movement] to Ahmad.
News
Sources told Al Akhbar that "the concentrated consultations held by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri with opposition leaders and some within the majority have failed to achieve any advance so far."
According to the same sources, "the dinner meeting between PM-designate Hariri and MP Sleiman Franjieh Wednesday evening did not lead to any major developments, as is the case with the dinner meeting held Thursday evening between Hariri and MP Walid Jumblatt in Clemenceau."
Sources close to Speaker Berri assured that "he is offering options to the proposed government lineup; including the comprehensive rotational distribution [of ministries] or a partial rotation, whereby some portfolios would be allotted to the same parties again, whereas the Ministry of Telecommunications would be exchanged for the Justice portfolio."
The Future Movement has planned an organizational reform on July 12. While Saad Hariri is getting prepared for the premiership, the position of the movement's secretary general is to go to his cousin, Ahmad Hariri.
As-safir
Opening Titles
Sleiman's retreat makes Aoun the "primary negotiator;" Geagea bets on "heroism" again.
The government formation crisis: A Christian obstacle or a continuous leadership struggle?
News
Many majority leaders were told, "Do not be consider Samir Geagea's warning. He is bound by one option: Either he joins the government with whatever he is allotted or he will be sacrificed."
As-Safir said, "Based on the information he was getting from US Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison, Geagea did not suppose that the Saudi-Syrian reconciliation was possible. When it happened, he realized that harvest time is countering progressive complications and that the formation of the government is now in process."
An-nahar
Opening Titles
Two hanging proposals between Hariri and Aoun
The Clemenceau meeting ensures the Public Works [portfolio] for Jumblatt
News
An-Nahar has learned from sources close to the majority that General Michel Aoun declined the latest offer made by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri through mediators, while Hariri seemed resolute about it.
According to these sources, the offer proposed to allot the Telecom portfolio to Aoun, though on condition of not granting it to Gebran Bassil, in addition to the ministries of Tourism, the Displaced and Culture. Aoun replied that he demands [to obtain] the ministries of Telecommunications, Education or Social Affairs, the Displaced and Labor. Aoun implied that he might agree to the replacement of the Telecom portfolio with that of Public Works.
Sources assured to An-Nahar that talks with all parties have started dealing with the names to be included in the government lineup.
MP Ibrahim Kanaan told An-Nahar that "the decision to settle the formation of the government is now in the hands of the prime minister-designate, as he has the two offers, which General Michel Aoun may accept."
Kanaan said, "[Aoun will accept] either the rotational distribution [of ministries] or maintaining the current distribution of key portfolios as it is," adding, "The picture is now pretty much obvious, and there is no more room for interpretation."
No information was leaked as regards the fine points of the meeting held between PM-designate Hariri and MP Walid Jumblatt yesterday in Clemenceau. The two men were said to be "content" of the consultations they held concerning the formation of the government and other issues.
According to sources, the allotment of the Ministry of Public Works in the new cabinet to Minister Ghazi Aridi is now a non-negotiable issue.
