Hariri Is Seeking “Quiet Contemplation”
Premier-designate Saad Hariri opted to travel at this point in order to give himself time for "quiet thinking," interim Prime Minister Fouad Saniora said Tuesday during al-Mustaqbal Movement”s weekly meeting in Qoreitem.
Hariri”s office said earlier he left this week for a family holiday to southern France. It didn”t say how long the vacation would last nor explain why the premier-designate chose to vacation at this time.
Hariri "wanted to give himself time for quiet thinking and contemplation, away from the recent rhetoric," Saniora said, a reference to concerns over Jumblatt”s shift.
Saniora said Hariri "wanted to take an actual distance from the heated debate surrounding the political structure of March 14 forces and the government”s formation."
Discussions at the meeting covered the platform of "Lebanon First" which was launched during the parliamentary elections campaign. The participants vowed commitment to their slogan which they agreed "does not contradict Lebanon”s unquestionable Arab identity."