Moussa For a Make-Or-Break Mission Sunday

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa arrives in Beirut Sunday on a “few-hours” mission to sponsor a tripartite meeting between representatives of the majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition as success prospects appeared grim.

 

Moussa”s scout man Hisham Youssef, who left Beirut Friday declaring that gaps remain wide, is to meet the secretary general in Cairo Saturday to brief him on outcome of his fact-finding efforts in Beirut.

 

Informed sources in Beirut told Naharnet Youssef”s efforts in Beirut “have not reached a point by which he can report progress to the secretary general.”

 

“All that Youssef gathered in Beirut was more deadlocks and more obstacles” blocking implementation of the Arab initiative, one source said.

 

“All that Moussa can do is to drop in for a few hours, sponsor the tripartite majority-opposition meeting. If it resulted in agreement he would announce it, if it resulted in failure he would announce it,” the source added without further elaboration.

 

The meeting would group Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in his capacity as opposition representative with Majority representatives, ex-President Amin Gemayel and Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri.

 

Gemayel said the Hizbullah-led opposition wants to pacify the forthcoming president”s role in the new cabinet, by giving him one third of the seats, but banning his ministers from voting on decisions.

 

The move, rejected by Gemayel and the March 14 majority, would strip the Maronite Christian president of any role in the nation”s decision-making.

 

In case of the majority”s refusal to pacify the president”s ministers, the Hizbullah-led opposition would insist on having veto powers, an issue totally rejected by March 14 majority alliance.

 

This leaves no room for maneuvering by Moussa to work out a compromise putting an end to the ongoing
power struggle.