No progress will be achieved in resolving the government crisis until Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas approves the transportation allowance that is part of the government wage hike, Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s circles informed As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.

They added that the minister is obligated to publish the decree after the cabinet approved it even if the decision contradicts his views.

The bickering between President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun didn’t go unnoticed during St. Maroun Day on Thursday after Aoun violated the protocol and entered the St. George Cathedral after the head of state.

Media reports said Friday that several officials were frustrated when Aoun delayed his entry to the cathedral to attend a mass celebrated by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi reiterated on the occasion of St. Maroun Day on Thursday his call for the adoption of a new social pact to renew the national pact of 1943.

During a sermon at the St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut, al-Rahi said the new pact would be based on mutual respect, equality and cooperation that would neutralize Lebanon and steer it clear of regional and international axes.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly stressed on Wednesday that the U.N. remains committed to further consolidating was has been achieved since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701.

He said after meeting with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour: “The United Nations remains deeply committed to promoting the security and stability of Lebanon.”

Premier Najib Miqati has rejected to launch an initiative to resolve the cabinet crisis as Speaker Nabih Berri has also refused so far to mediate between him and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Miqati’s sources told al-Akhbar daily published Wednesday that the PM “can no longer tolerate” the way ministers loyal to Aoun are dealing with him.

Speaker Nabih Berri slammed on Wednesday March 14 coalition MPs who have accused the Lebanese army of deploying in northern areas bordering Syria at the behest of the Assad regime.

“The army is carrying out the duties that its leader Gen. Jean Qahwaji has ordered,” Berri told An Nahar and As Safir dailies. “This is a patriotic institution that implements the government’s policy of distancing itself from the events in Syria.”

A cabinet crisis that brought sessions to a standstill and showed no signs of mediation efforts last week, seemed to see a glimpse of hope on Tuesday after Speaker Nabih Berri held talks with Premier Najib Miqati following his rift with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“I confirmed to Berri that my latest actions were according to my national convictions, I have nothing to hide,” Miqati told An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday.

Speaker Nabih Berri held talks on Monday with Prime Minister Najib Miqati as part of efforts to resolve the government crisis, reported the National News Agency.

Miqati said after the half-hour meeting: “If we are certain that cabinet will be productive, then we will resume cabinet sessions."

The current government deadlock is likely to stretch indefinitely given that a mechanism to restore cabinet productivity, as Premier Najib Miqati had demanded, will probably take a while, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Ministerial circles noted however that the ongoing tensions between Miqati and the Free Patriotic Movement may be eased through the intervention of the FPM’s ally Hizbullah.

Speaker Nabih Berri has not yet launched efforts to end the political deadlock in Lebanon, however the recent meeting between his envoy Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi may be the beginning of such efforts, reported the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper on Sunday.

It also pointed out to the rapprochement between the Mustaqbal Movement and Berri’s AMAL party, adding that direct talks between the two sides will be held after the February 14 ceremony marking the anniversary of the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.