This is not a national-unity government
March 14 General Secretariat member Michel Mouawad said that the newly-appointed cabinet is not a national-unity government, even though it includes all factions and parties.
“A national-unity government requires two conditions: that all factions are represented, and that all parties agree to a common program,” Mouawad told NOW Lebanon, adding that the second condition has not been fulfilled.
“March 14 is suggesting an independent and sovereign Lebanon, protected by the Lebanese state, which monopolizes war and peace decisions, a Lebanon committed to Arab causes that also adopts a positive and neutral position.”
“Hezbollah is presenting a different project for Lebanon, where the country is an open [battle] ground… for the confrontation between the Iranian Guardianship of the Jurist and what they call the US-Israeli policy in the region,” Mouawad said.
He said that the government’s mission is to handle problems within its legitimate institutions.
Commenting on Former Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad not being appointed in the new cabinet, Mouawad said he thinks that Minister of State Nassib Lahoud “represents us,” “but we reject that independent Christian forces, which are an indivisible part of March 14, will not be represented in the government.”
He added that March 14 managed to overcome its sectarian characteristics to ensure the formation of a balanced government between various factions.
Mouawad expressed hope that the new ministerial statement takes the Taif and Doha agreements, and the president’s inaugural speech regarding the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons into consideration.
He also expressed hope that normal and balanced relations between Lebanon and Syria are established. “The Syrian regime must be aware that we are not one people living in two states, but two people living in two separate states under the Arab system.”
“Diplomatic ties are not enough. We want Syria to clearly recognize Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence,” Mouawad said.
“This starts with drawing the border and controlling it to prevent the Syrian regime from smuggling weapons and terrorists into Lebanon with the aim of striking the Lebanese state,” he added.
Mouawad also said that the Lebanese detainees in Syria have left an “open wound” on the country.