Suleiman hopes new cabinet to be formed soon

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday expressed hope that intensified efforts by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri would soon produce a cabinet deal.

"I hope that intense efforts over the past 24 hours would produce a new government on the basis that everyone is aware of the danger of the continuing delay and take the initiative to make sacrifices in order to re-launch state operations and stop wasting time," Suleiman said following a meeting with a delegation from the U.S. Council for the National Interest headed by former ambassador Jack Matlock.

It is now in the fifth month since Hariri was designated PM in late June, but he is still making efforts to form a national unity government including the Hezbollah-led opposition, as the rival blocs keep negotiating the key portfolios in the new cabinet, such as the telecommunications and justice ministries.

Hariri is holding intensive negotiations with the opposition leaders on Monday, and there are reports said that the cabinet lineup will come out in days as the opposition changed its demands on portfolios.

Suleiman also said to the U.S. delegation that the key to boosting Middle East peace is by giving Palestinian refugees their rights, particularly the right of return.


Source: Xinhua