Geagea dismisses call for dialogue as diversion

by **Admin** Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:51 am

Lebanese Forces boss Samir Geagea said on Friday that inter-Arab differences were greater than Lebanese differences, adding that putting Lebanon's crisis on hold until Arab states reconcile is not in Lebanon's best interest. Geagea said after meeting Egypt's ambassador to Lebanon, Ahmad al-Bedewi, "putting off the election of a new president until an agreement is reached on a new government and a new electoral law is equal to dealing with the country's presidential post as if it were a hostage."

Geagea said that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's call for dialogue aims at diverting attention from the Parliament's ordinary session, which starts on the last Tuesday of April and lasts till the end of May.
According to the Lebanese Constitution, the Parliament is obliged to meet at least once during an ordinary session.

Commenting on commander of Lebanese Armed Forces General Michel Suleiman's plans to retire on August 21, Geagea said Suleiman remains a presidential candidate even after he quits his post in the army.
Suleiman told As-Safir daily Thursday he was fed up with they way his candidacy is being dealt with by the feuding parties.

"I fully understand Suleiman's position. I would have the same position if I were in his shoes," Geagea said.
Geagea said the 1960 general elections law "is much better than the present law, but we are looking for even a better law."

He said Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun and Hizbullah have not outlined their stand on the election law.

Meanwhile, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh told The Daily Star on Friday that the ruling March 14 Forces will meet and decide on a unified position if Berri calls for national dialogue. "In principle, we are in favor of dialogue, but the March 14 Forces constitute different parties and will have to meet and agree on a unified position."

Also on Friday, Culture Minister Tarek Mitri said that an extraordinary Arab meeting on Lebanon was in the offing.

Mitri, also acting foreign minister, told Voice of Lebanon Radio that the Arab meeting will address the strained relations between Beirut and Damascus, as requested by Premier Fouad Siniora in his speech on the eve of the last Arab League meeting in Damascus.

Meanwhile, Berri said on Friday that the holding of roundtable national dialogue depends on the cooperation of the different parties concerned, "particularly the ruling majority."

Also Friday, Berri met US Charge d'Affaires Michel Sison, who did not make any comment after the meeting.
Berri returned to Beirut from Europe on Thursday and is expected to later head an Arab tour to secure Arab backing for his call for national dialogue.
Berri said that his Arab tour will include Damascus, Riyadh, Cairo, and other Arab capitals.
Berri welcomed Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt's readiness to participate in national dialogue.

Jumblatt on Wednesday said there is no alternative to dialogue in Lebanon, but questioned whether the opposition would change its mind regarding the agreements made in in dialogue sessions in spring 2006.
Berri assured Jumblatt the agreements reached in earlier sessions will remain unchanged.

He said the dialogue will touch on two issues; the formation of a national unity cabinet and the drafting of a new electoral law for the 2009 elections.

"We have already agreed on electing ... Suleiman as president and there is no need to discuss this issue again," he said.

The speaker added that his call for local dialogue does not conflict with the Arab initiative.

Commenting on the call to elect a president before holding national dialogue to discuss the next government and the electoral law, Berri said that such a move does not agree with the Arab initiative, which enlisted the three issues in one package.

Parliament has already failed to elect a new president on 17 occasions. The country's presidential seat has been vacant since last November, when Emile Lahoud stood down.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Fatfat told Kuwait's Al-Siyassah daily that the parliamentary majority was not against dialogue.

"We are in favor of dialogue, but we do not want to sit and talk just for the sake of talking," he said. "In earlier dialogue sessions, we agreed on a number of issues, but nothing has been implemented so far."

"Berri represents a party in the conflict and for that reason he cannot sponsor any dialogue. Berri ought to call Parliament to session to elect a new president, who in turn would sponsor dialogue between the rival parties," Fatfat told the Kuwaiti newspaper.

In a separate development on Friday, Russia decided to donate $500,000 to fund the international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri