Hariri Moves toward Talks with Opposition, Karami Says Aoun Remarks “Provocation of Sunnis”
Contacts made by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri with Opposition leaders, the first from outside the Opposition triangle – Hizbullah, AMAL and the Free Patriotic Movement — broke the deadlock over Cabinet formation.
Hariri has met with Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan whose sources denied that the Sports and Youth Minister has delivered any letter from any political side.
The sources said the Hariri-Arslan meeting at Center House on Wednesday was agreed upon in advance and before Arslan”s visit to FPM leader Michel Aoun on Tuesday.
Another Arslan source told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that it was "time to end the boycott and resume dialogue."
He said Arslan accepted Hariri”s invitation regardless of the political bickering between Aoun and the PM-designate.
The source acknowledged that Arslan, together with leadership and supporters, "feels bitter" about the way he was treated with regards to the Cabinet lineup.
Also Wednesday, Hariri discussed the political situation and obstacles facing government formation with former Prime Minister Omar Karami.
The two men are scheduled to have lunch together at Hariri”s mansion on Thursday.
As-Safir newspaper the Hariri-Karami talks focused on the powers of the prime minister in the wake of Aoun”s latest remarks. It said Hariri believed that Aoun”s demands "hurt the premier-designate and his role" in achieving a government of national unity.
Karami, for his part, said he believed Aoun”s comments were provocation of Sunnis.
"Aoun”s statement about the presence of only one president for the state which is the president of the republic provokes Sunnis in Lebanon," Karami said in remarks published by As-Safir on Thursday.
Hariri also met late Wednesday with Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel.