U.N. Stresses Dialogue but Remains Mum on Political Makeup of Lebanon Cabinet

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s acting deputy spokesperson rejected to comment on attempts by the Hizbullah-led alliance to form a new government in Lebanon, saying cabinet formation should be done through dialogue.

“We wouldn’t comment on the precise political makeup of any government. We have simply stressed in general that we would like the process by which a government is formed in Lebanon to be one of dialogue,” said Farhan Haq.

“We are hopeful that the parties will work with each other towards forming a government,” he said in his briefing to reporters in New York.

Asked if UNIFIL would be affected by the decision of the March 14 forces not to take part in a government that is not led by Saad Hariri, Haq said: “UNIFIL goes about its own work. It assesses the situation on the ground as needed and makes any adjustments to its forces as needed.”

“At this stage, UNIFIL is enjoying good cooperation from the Lebanese authorities, as per usual,” he told reporters.

Asked if the U.N. is going to cooperate with a new government formed by the March 8 forces, Haq said: “At this stage, I don’t want to prejudge what the composition of a new government would be. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“That’s a hypothetical claim. I don’t really have anything to say about that,” he said when a reporter asked him if the U.N. was concerned over moves by Hariri’s supporters to bock roads.