March 14 Preconditions Participation on Policy Statement Support for Tribunal, Rejection of Arms
The March 14 forces have reportedly preconditioned their participation in the cabinet on the inclusion in the policy statement of articles stressing Lebanon’s commitment to the international tribunal and preserving political life from arms.
Informed March 14 forces told An Nahar daily in remarks published Sunday that the coalition is insisting on including two articles that stress the country’s “commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the protection of political life from the predominance of weapons.”
Such preconditions led Hizbullah to publicly accuse March 14 of rejecting to defend Lebanon.
“We appreciate the courage of political leaderships that confronted challenges while under pressure,” said MP Nawaf al-Moussawi. “We go ahead along with these leaderships to form a government that salvages Lebanon” from plots.
He also slammed the “American-Israeli strife tunnel” which took the tribunal as an excuse to implement its objective.
Another Hizbullah MP, Hassan Fadlallah, said the March 14 forces that are relying “on options other than that of the resistance haven’t previously cared about protecting the country and the south … and preserving Lebanon and defending it.”
Meanwhile, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said March 14’s nonparticipation in the government of Premier-designate Najib Miqati is almost settled.
A March 14 leader told the newspaper that the alliance’s leaders met at Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri’s residence on Thursday night and didn’t reach a conclusion on their demands for commitment to the tribunal and the Taef accord and finding a solution to the issue of illegitimate arms except for Hizbullah’s weapons.
Miqati has reportedly suggested giving the coalition 10 ministers in a 30-member cabinet but March 14 is insisting on getting the one-third of government seats allowing it to have veto power.
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