Mikati refuses to revive resigned Cabinet, backs return of Salam
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2013
The Daily Star - Hasan Lakkis
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reiterated his refusal to re-activate his resigned Cabinet, while voicing support for re-appointing Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam should the latter choose to step down.
Mikati’s comments were made during a meeting at the Grand Serail with several media professionals, including from The Daily Star. He said he saluted his ally Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt for his stance regarding the re-nomination of Salam, in the event the latter gives up on trying to form a government.
Mikati said he had expected the naming of the prime minister-designate to run smoothly and the formation of a Cabinet to be more time consuming.
“It is in the interest of every loyal Lebanese citizen that the Cabinet be formed as soon as possible,” he said.
The caretaker premier said at the time he thought resigning the Cabinet “would ease the situation in the country.” He warned that the Cabinet formation should not be linked to developments outside Lebanon.
“If extending the mandate of the president is bad then a vacuum at the level of the presidency is worse,” he said, adding that if he was forced to choose between a presidential vacancy and the extension of President Michel Sleiman’s mandate, then he would pick the latter.
He was reluctant to discuss possible presidential candidates, but voiced appreciation for all those who have expressed interest, including Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi.
Mikati emphasized that efforts were underway to hold a presidential election on time, stressing that “this is not impossible.”
“I have discussed this issue with Speaker Nabih Berri, with whom I enjoy good relations, and I visit him regularly,” he said.
Commenting on the situation in Tripoli, Mikati said: “Gradual steps have been taken to resolve the situation in Tripoli,” adding that “I have discussed the issue with caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.”
“There are certain parties that distribute money and arms in Tripoli, but if I identify them then I would be accusing them officially, and I have to act accordingly,” he said. “But until now I am not sure who these parties are.”
Nevertheless, Mikati emphasized that there would be no leniency for those found responsible for carrying out the deadly car bombings that killed 47 people and wounded hundreds.
“This issue has been followed up by both the judiciary and the security forces, and it has been closely monitored by the Cabinet as well. If [authorities] were being lenient, the suspects wouldn’t have been arrested in Jabal Mohsen,” Mikati said.
“We want [Arab Democratic Party leader] Ali Eid to appear before the judge and provide his statement, and there is a certain way to implement this judicial order,” Mikati added.
On the controversial issue of approving oil extraction decrees, Mikati said: “I’m not against resolving the issue,” by holding a Cabinet session to adopt the decrees and grant international companies the right to explore and extract resources from Lebanese waters.
But, he clarified: “What I want is to resolve the issue properly by relieving it from political bickering so it can be addressed in a practical way.”
Mikati defended the request he made to Parliament to hold a session to define the tasks and powers of the caretaker Cabinet.
He justified the request by pointing to similar demands made by Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, the Free Patriotic Movement and Minister of State Ali Qanso to hold Cabinet sessions and resolve the oil issue.
Mikati said the idea to delineate and clarify the powers of the caretaker Cabinet arose because the parties were blaming “me in person” for not responding to the request.
He stressed “my relationship with all parties is good and I have no enmity with anyone, I keep contact with all.” He extended his apologies to parties that believed he had done them harm.
Touching on his relations with Saudi Arabia, Mikati said: “Regardless of any stance, if the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shuts its door in our faces, we will come back through a window. We can’t but have the best relations with the KSA and we can’t take a negative stance toward it.”
“Relations between countries should not be made personal. It should be set according to strategic principles regardless of the people who are representing the state,” Mikati said.
He said that his latest meetings with Crown Prince Salman bin Abdel-Aziz, Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and Prince Bandar bin Sultan were promising.

