Berri: It is Shameful to Deal with Resistance This Way!
Source: Al-Manar TV, 25-7-2008
Two weeks have passed on the formation of Lebanon's government, and its ministerial statement, that was believed to be too easy to be inked, hasn't seen light yet.
Indeed, although it's called a national unity government, its members are still unable to agree on one appropriate ministerial statement that reflects some unity in handling different national issues.
The ministerial committee in charge with drafting the ministerial statement held since its formation seven lengthy meetings, but was unable to reach an agreement on the different topics that cause differences.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT COMMITTEE SUSPENDS DEBATE ON MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUES
Moreover, following the committee's seventh meeting, Information Minister TareK Mitri announced that the committee had suspended all debate on major national issues of controversy. Mitri said the committee would meet again on Friday afternoon.
"We have agreed on several matters related to foreign affairs, justice, women's issues, the issue of Imam Musa al Sadr and the question of aid to repair damage resulting from "Israeli" aggressions," Mitri told reporters.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the ministerial statement committee had decided to suspend talks on controversial issues, and first and foremost on the issue of the Resistance and its weapons because of the committee's inability to agree on a common formula.
SOURCES: DELAY IN DRAFTING MINISTERIAL STATEMENT AIMS AT OBSTRUCTION SULEIMAN'S VISIT TO DAMASCUS
In this context, well-informed sources told Lebanese daily Ad-Diyar that the problem is limited to the fact that Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and his team are trying to keep the word "Resistance" out of the statement, whereas the opposition holds this issue as a red line that ought not to be transgressed.
Other sources put the delaying of the issuance of the ministerial statement in the framework of obstructing the expected Lebanese-Syrian Summit, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman was set to visit Damascus to meet with his Syrian counterpart Bachar Al-Assad, once the government gains the Parliament vote of confidence.
BERRI SOUNDS ALARM: DELAY IN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT IS SHAME!
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri sounded the alarm once again on Friday, stressing the delay in issuing the ministerial statement was a shame.
The ministerial statement committee must not waste time "if we are in a rush to get the political and economic wheel in the country moving," Berri told Lebanese daily An-Nahar, slamming leaders for spending too much time discussing certain expressions within the ministerial statement.
He also said it was "shameful" that the issue of Hizbullah's arms was obstructing the drafting of the statement. "It is shameful to deal with the resistance and its men this way," he said.
Berri told the Lebanese daily that as long as Lebanese land remains occupied, a "real defense strategy" or a "council to defend Lebanon under the army's umbrella" are needed.
Berri also said that it is not in Lebanon's interest to cancel the agreements already signed between Lebanon and Syria. "The government must review them, most of which are in Lebanon's interests, which will be obvious when scrutinizing these agreements," Berri said.
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Two weeks have passed on the formation of Lebanon's government, and its ministerial statement, that was believed to be too easy to be inked, hasn't seen light yet.
Indeed, although it's called a national unity government, its members are still unable to agree on one appropriate ministerial statement that reflects some unity in handling different national issues.
The ministerial committee in charge with drafting the ministerial statement held since its formation seven lengthy meetings, but was unable to reach an agreement on the different topics that cause differences.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT COMMITTEE SUSPENDS DEBATE ON MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUES
Moreover, following the committee's seventh meeting, Information Minister TareK Mitri announced that the committee had suspended all debate on major national issues of controversy. Mitri said the committee would meet again on Friday afternoon.
"We have agreed on several matters related to foreign affairs, justice, women's issues, the issue of Imam Musa al Sadr and the question of aid to repair damage resulting from "Israeli" aggressions," Mitri told reporters.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the ministerial statement committee had decided to suspend talks on controversial issues, and first and foremost on the issue of the Resistance and its weapons because of the committee's inability to agree on a common formula.
SOURCES: DELAY IN DRAFTING MINISTERIAL STATEMENT AIMS AT OBSTRUCTION SULEIMAN'S VISIT TO DAMASCUS
In this context, well-informed sources told Lebanese daily Ad-Diyar that the problem is limited to the fact that Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and his team are trying to keep the word "Resistance" out of the statement, whereas the opposition holds this issue as a red line that ought not to be transgressed.
Other sources put the delaying of the issuance of the ministerial statement in the framework of obstructing the expected Lebanese-Syrian Summit, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman was set to visit Damascus to meet with his Syrian counterpart Bachar Al-Assad, once the government gains the Parliament vote of confidence.
BERRI SOUNDS ALARM: DELAY IN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT IS SHAME!
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri sounded the alarm once again on Friday, stressing the delay in issuing the ministerial statement was a shame.
The ministerial statement committee must not waste time "if we are in a rush to get the political and economic wheel in the country moving," Berri told Lebanese daily An-Nahar, slamming leaders for spending too much time discussing certain expressions within the ministerial statement.
He also said it was "shameful" that the issue of Hizbullah's arms was obstructing the drafting of the statement. "It is shameful to deal with the resistance and its men this way," he said.
Berri told the Lebanese daily that as long as Lebanese land remains occupied, a "real defense strategy" or a "council to defend Lebanon under the army's umbrella" are needed.
Berri also said that it is not in Lebanon's interest to cancel the agreements already signed between Lebanon and Syria. "The government must review them, most of which are in Lebanon's interests, which will be obvious when scrutinizing these agreements," Berri said.
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