Saniora Sets Cabinet”s Priority
Premier Fouad Saniora on Friday set his cabinet”s mission as managing differences among the various factions through state institutions and setting the stage for the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Saniora, talking to reporters at the republican palace after his thirty-member cabinet was formed, said "It also aims at regainig international and regional confidence in Lebanon”s political system."
"We want to stress to the world that the Lebanese government takes interests of all the Lebanese into consideration," a smiling Saniora said.
He termed his cabninet "The cabinet of unity and the cabinet of all Lebanon."
"We have decided to manage our differences through institutes of the democratic system and not through submission", he added.
Saniora said "We won”t guarantee transparent elections. It”s the government”s duty in cooperation with parliament to guarantee peaceful competition" among candidates.
Saniora emphasized that "The citizen”s vote would decide who wins the elections and would lead the Lebanese to bolster Lebanon”s sovereignty."
In answereing a question about harmony among the ministers who represent feuding factions, Saniora said:" Differences are behind us. The Lebanese people want a government that would lead them into the future."
"This process should be given all the chances to succeed. It is a big challenge," he concluded.