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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| MP Zahra: The 'Resistance Problem' Awaits the Cabinet's Policy Statement |
| 2008-07-14 |
| MP Antoine Zahra said any attempt by the Hizbullah-led opposition to include the "Resistance" in the new cabinet's policy statement would create a problem. "We would be obliged to demand the launching of national dialogue to tackle the defense strategy and adopt what the Lebanese (factions) agree on (and include it) in the policy statement," Zahra said in an interview with Naharnet. Representation of the March 14 Christian factions in the cabinet, that Zahra expects to be formed by no later than Friday, would be equal to the share of Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc, he added. "No one can claim achieving illusory victories," Zahra stressed. The attempt by Hizbullah to nominate ministers from outside the party's framework is a "maneuver that does not facilitate efforts to form the cabinet," he said. "Cabinet seats are not awards" to be distributed to whoever took part "in the invasion of Beirut," Zahra said in an apparent reference to Ali Qanso, former chairman of the Syrian Social National Party (SSNP) who was nominated by Hizbullah as minister of youth and sports. Zahra said there is no problem between the Lebanese Forces, to which he belongs, and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat "neither on cabinet representation nor on political aspirations." "We understand Jumblat's stand. We realize that he made the statement because he insists on being represented by a Christian minister," Zahra added. "There would be no split within March 14 ... the main and most important agenda is state building. We are all for this agenda," Zahra added. Zahra concluded by saying the 2009 parliamentary elections would "define Lebanon's political image." "That is why the March 14 forces have no other option but to cooperate ... with the aim of winning at least 70" of parliament's 128 seats. "Opinion polls indicate that March 14 forces would be able to win the 70 seats," he added. "No one would take the risk of toppling Lebanon ... just to win an extra seat," Zahra concluded. |
| Posted by:Fred |