Outgoing premier Saad Hariri on Saturday held broad consultations with March 14 leaders and economic and popular figures before presiding over a meeting for Mustaqbal Movement's politburo that was dedicated to discussing the latest political developments, his press office said.
"The Mustaqbal Movement stresses its commitment to the democratic course," a statement issued after Mustaqbal's politburo meeting said, noting that "the parliamentary consultations conducted by the president" were held amid "fierce foreign pressures aimed at changing the rules of the democratic game."
Full StorySources close to caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri revealed that he had informed Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati during the parliamentary consultations “that I have not agreed on anything” as long as the Saudi-Syrian initiative and the Qatari-Turkish efforts to end the Lebanese political crisis have failed, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat Saturday.
He added addressing Miqati: “Based on that, no one should put words in my mouth or quote me as saying that I have agreed to this point or that. I ask you not to quote me as agreeing on anything as I gave not agreed to a thing and anything other than that is not true.”
Full StoryOutgoing premier Saad Hariri held talks Friday evening at the Center House with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams.
"We had a very good meeting. I underlined the importance of maintaining calm and stability in Lebanon during this period. As I have always said, all parties need to work together and engage in dialogue to resolve outstanding differences, no matter how sensitive," Williams said after the meeting.
Full StorySpeaker Nabih Berri said he told PM-designate Najib Miqati that the March 8 forces would facilitate the government formation process that should not take more than a week or two if former Premier Saad Hariri’s camp wants to take part in the new cabinet.
In remarks to An Nahar and As Safir newspapers published Friday, Berri said the government should be formed “as soon as possible” to give the green light to projects that would help the Lebanese overcome their crises.
Full StoryU.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman stressed that U.N. Security Council members have expressed their keenness on seeing a Lebanese commitment to international resolutions following the formation of a new government led by Caretaker PM Najib Miqati.
Feltman told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Friday that his talks with French officials in Paris touched on the developments in Lebanon. Security Council members have expressed to him their keenness on Lebanon’s commitment to resolutions 1701 and 1757, he said.
Full StoryOutgoing PM Saad Hariri and his Al-Mustaqbal Movement on Thursday demanded that PM-designate Najib Miqati clarify his position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) before deciding on whether or not to join the new government.
MP Fouad Saniora, speaking on behalf of Al-Mustaqbal bloc, said Miqati was asked during consultations with Hariri to say clearly whether his government would cease all cooperation with the STL.
Full StoryU.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly held talks Thursday evening with outgoing premier Saad Hariri at his residence in downtown Beirut, the U.S. Embassy announced in a statement.
Connelly and Hariri discussed the ongoing parliamentary consultations and the position of the Mustaqbal bloc, said the statement.
Full StorySyrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Thursday urged all political parties in Lebanon to join a new government headed by Najib Miqati and opposed by outgoing Premier Saad Hariri.
"We call on all parties to join the Miqati cabinet, and Syria is ready to cooperate with this government," Muallem told a joint news conference with his British counterpart William Hague.
Full StoryPrime Minister-designate Najib Miqati's meeting with outgoing PM Saad Hariri on Wednesday as part of a series of protocol visits on former prime ministers lasted barely a few minutes, local media reported.
Footage aired on television stations showed the two men sitting silently.
Full StoryPrime Minister-designate Najib Miqati on Thursday launched efforts to form a new government amid outgoing PM Saad Hariri's insistence on an all-out boycott of his al-Mustaqbal bloc in the new Cabinet and March 14 forces' unclear stance.
Miqati began his consultations at Parliament by meeting Speaker Nabih Berri.
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