New Wave of Optimism Could Produce Cabinet Deal by Week”s End
A New wave of optimism over a Cabinet lineup appears in the horizon following reports that regional powers moved to help resolve a lengthy political crisis that has threatened to plunge Lebanon into chaos.
Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar were said to have exerted intensive efforts to try to defuse a political impasse over Lebanese government formation, particularly in light of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem”s visit to Iran which also hosted the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in addition to contacts between Damascus and Riyadh, which have intensified in recent days.
These contacts were crowned by a visit to Damascus by envoys of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun that included a trip on Thursday by Caretaker Telecoms Minister Jebran Bassil and another by Karim Pakradouni.
The daily As-Safir said Bassil paid his condolences to Syrian Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban for the death of her mother.
Sources in the majority hinted that Bassil, on the sidelines of his visit, met high-ranking Syrian officials. Opposition sources, however, denied the report, saying Bassil”s visit was purely on social grounds.
New TV reported that former Cabinet Minister Michel Semaha accompanied Bassil to Damascus where the two held a number of meetings with Syrian officials in an effort to settle the dispute over the ministerial portfolios allocated to Aoun.
Al-Liwaa daily, however, said Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Mario Aoun also went to Damascus along with Bassil.
Bassil, according to a source in Damascus cited by al-Akhbar newspaper, met Shaaban at her house and the two had lunch together at a Damascus restaurant.
The source, however, declined to confirm reports that Bassil met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Basil and Semaha also refused to comment on the issue.
Al-Liwaa said Aoun had summoned Pakradouni, who is known for his historic ties with Syria, and gave him a letter to convey to Damascus after Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh called off his mediation.
It said Pakradouni returned from Damascus with a letter that said the Lebanese government should be announced before Saturday.
Meanwhile, An-Nahar daily said the latest progress on a Cabinet lineup was renewal of an offer that suggested giving Aoun the displaced people ministry, in addition to the telecomsn, energy and tourism.
As-Safir, however, pointed out that Aoun”s quota will include the ministries of industry, tourism as well as energy and telecommunications, in addition to a state minister.
In a related development, pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat quoted sources in the majority as saying that PM-designate Saad Hariri is unlikely to accept to exchange the industry ministry for the social affairs seat.
The sources stressed that Hariri was running out of offers and warned "let each party take responsibility for the delay in government formation."