Miqati: I Am Not Abusing the STL to Remain in Power

Prime Minister Najib Miqati criticized on Thursday some of the statements issued by MPs during their discussions of the government policy statement at parliament during the past three days, saying that some of their remarks were unrealistic and illogical.

He said at the end of the discussions: “We welcome constructive criticism but some of the statements were irresponsible and violated my principles.”

“Our government is not responsible for the developments in Lebanon over the past few years,” he noted.

“Our cabinet did not ignore the severe division we are witnessing, but it asserted that it will work on bridging the gap, committing to the constitution, and implementing the Taef accord in full,” he said.

“The accord will help restore trust between the Lebanese and provide them with justice,” he stated.

Addressing the possession of arms outside the state’s authority, Miqati said that his government did not ignore this issue.

Maintaining security is the state’s responsibility and no other side can help it in this mission, he added.

“Removing the arms from the cities is one of the cabinet’s primary demands,” he stressed.

“The government was born out a pure Lebanese will, perhaps for the first time in its history,” the premier noted.

“Should the country remain without a government?” he asked.

In addition, rejected claims by some MPs that a coup was staged and the cabinet was therefore formed through unconstitutional means.

The government will not seek to achieve vengeance as some have alleged, the prime minister added.

On the use of the word “respect” instead of “commitment” regarding the government’s position on international agreements and resolutions, Miqati said: “This word is more important than ‘commitment’ because it is used in the constitution as the President respects the constitution.”

Commenting on the use of the term “in principle” in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon clause in the policy statement, he stated: “Former PM Saad Hariri used it in a speech once when he said that ‘we commit to cooperating with the STL, which was formed in principle to achieve justice.’”

“The cabinet is keen on Lebanon’s stability, unity, and peace because it believes that the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was aimed at destroying the country’s stability and peace,” he added.

“The government is not shying away from its commitment to the martyrs,” he stressed.

“It’s shameful to accuse the cabinet of this,” he emphasized.

“I am not abusing the STL and justice in order to remain in power … I will not back down from the demand to achieve justice,” Miqati declared.

“The government is determined to cooperate with the STL and United Nations Security Council resolution 1757 on it,” he said.

Furthermore, the prime minister added that he will follow what his conscience and loyalty to Hariri dictate.