Aoun, Hariri Vow to Continue Talks despite Difficulties
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun met at Baabda Palace in the first direct meeting between the two sides and both men pledged to continue talks despite the "many difficulties."
The long-awaited meeting under the patronage of President Michel Suleiman began at 12:30 pm on Monday.
Both leaders emerged from the 80-minute meeting saying talks will continue despite the difficulties.
"There are many difficulties facing Cabinet formation, but there is a possibility of continuing talks," Aoun told reporters.
Hariri, in turn, said the meeting aimed at breaking the ice and "we shall continue talks after Aoun”s return from an overseas trip."
Sources from both sides said earlier that the Lebanese should not expect too much out of the talks.
As-Safir newspaper quoted a well-informed political source as saying that developments are not so encouraging and warned not to get over-optimistic from the reunion.
It said that while the meeting is expected to break the ice between Hariri and Aoun and contribute in part in the restoration of bilateral relations, there are no indications that the meeting would come out with immediate results with regard to removing obstacles facing Cabinet formation "unless a miracle pops up," according to the political source.
As-Safir quoted sources close to Aoun as saying that the FPM leader will hear from Hariri his response to questions about getting five ministerial portfolios, including the telecoms and interior, in addition to four Maronite seats.
OTV, mouthpiece of the FPM, said Aoun was carrying with him a basket of demands that include commitment to the 15-10-5 Cabinet makeup, distribution of ministerial portfolios, acceptance of the names of proposed ministers by consensus leaderships and agreement on a ministerial statement.
Mustaqbal Movement sources, meanwhile, told as-Safir that the Hariri-Aoun meeting would not resolve the Cabinet lineup crisis "by pushing a button."
"The meeting, however, is expected to open the door for a serious dialogue that we hope would be fruitful away from political wrangling," one source said.
Al-Akhbar daily, for its part, quoted sources following up on the Hariri-Aoun meeting as saying that the FPM leader will carry with him a "final settlement" to the Cabinet dispute which calls for either keeping his ministers with the same portfolios in the caretaker government or he would continue to hold on to his demand to get both the telecommunications and interior ministries in addition to three other ministries.
An official with Mustaqbal Movement, meanwhile, uncovered in remarks published by al-Liwaa newspaper that Hariri would propose a "very significant compromise Cabinet deal" during Monday”s meeting.
On the other hand, information revealed that Hizbullah was behind encouraging Hariri to launch his initiative to meet Aoun and at the same time the Shiite group also pushed the FPM leader into accepting the offer.