Top Lebanese Officials Unite against Opposition in its Dialogue Conditions
Top Lebanese officials rejected conditions set by the March 14 opposition for the resumption of dialogue, saying the March 14 coalition should participate in the all-party talks without providing any excuses.
“Before calling for (the formation of) a neutral cabinet, let it first participate in the dialogue,” Speaker Nabih Berri’s visitors quoted him as saying.
The opposition conditioned on Thursday its participation in the National Dialogue on a resolution to all weapons outside the state’s jurisdiction.
It also said the government should resign and a neutral salvation cabinet should be formed.
Following a meeting held by its members at ex-Premier Saad Hariri’s residence in Center House, the coalition also announced that it would soon submit to President Michel Suleiman an initiative to “confront the conspiracy” against Lebanon.
Sources close to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who is a centrist, also rejected the March 14 conditions and stressed the importance of preserving the government to keep stability in Lebanon.
Suleiman announced on Thursday that he will call for the National Dialogue conference to be held in the second week of June and urged the March 14 forces to heed his call without linking it to the issue of forming a new government.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati backed Suleiman and snapped back at the opposition, telling As Safir daily on Friday that true salvation comes through “an unconditional, honest and clear dialogue among the Lebanese.”
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