Nasrallah to Miqati: STL Should Not be Mentioned in Policy Statement

Sources concerned with the government structure on Monday uncovered that the delay in forming a Cabinet is not only related to the issue of names and portfolios, but is due to differences between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and Hizbullah.

The sources told pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat that Hizbullah has informed Miqati that the party rejects any mention of the international tribunal in the policy statement.

They said Hizbullah’s stance came during a meeting between Miqati and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last week.

Al-Hayat said the meeting, which was held away from the spotlight, also tackled several issues connected to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, including Hizbullah’s insistence to appoint Sunni allies in the government, a demand Miqati has rejected “in order not to provoke the core of the Sunni political leadership.”

The sources said Miqati was waiting for an answer from Hizbullah on a proposal suggesting that the ministerial statement include statements such as a quest for justice and truth in the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri with emphasis on the rejection of “politicizing its work.”