Government is Harmonious, What Matters is Implementing the Content of Ministerial Statement
Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed that the government is "harmonious", and added that "the committee tasked with drafting the ministerial policy statement is working as fast as it can, but the essence remains in the implementation of what the statement will include."
In a chat with journalists at the Grand Serail, Hariri said he was optimistic regarding a close date for the conclusion of ministerial Policy Statement.
The Committee tasked with drafting the policy statement will hold a third meeting under Hariri at 5 pm on Tuesday in an effort to finalize a number of items regarding the political part before moving on to the economic aspect.
Earlier, Ministerial sources told the daily Al-Liwaa in remarks published Tuesday that clauses 5 and 6 were still the subject of dispute between the Opposition and Christian leaders within the March 14 alliance.
While the Opposition insists that the same approach used in the previous policy statement should apply in this case, March 14 Christians voiced no objection to that on condition that the phrase "the government makes decisions about war and peace" is added to clause 5, the sources said.
They said the Opposition represented by Hizbullah State Minister Mohammad Fneish refused to add this paragraph.
Also unresolved was Clause 6 which is related to Lebanon”s obligations toward international resolutions where the Opposition wants the term "respect" U.N. resolutions rather than "commitment."
On the economic situation, a heated debate took place during Monday”s meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri”s camp and Telecoms Minister Charbel Nahhas who represent Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in the new government.
Press reports said that while Hariri”s team stressed commitment to decisions adopted at Paris 1, 2 and 3, Nahhas made several comments aimed at torpedoing Paris 1, 2 and 3.
Al-Liwaa said a new dispute — privatization — is likely to surface in Tuesday”s meeting of the draft policy statement.