Miqati: I Am Not Abusing the STL to Remain in Power
Prime Minister Najib Miqati criticized on Thursday some of the statements issued by MPs during their discussions of the government policy statement at parliament during the past three days, saying that some of their remarks were unrealistic and illogical.
He said at the end of the discussions: “We welcome constructive criticism but some of the statements were irresponsible and violated my principles.”
“Our government is not responsible for the developments in Lebanon over the past few years,” he noted.
“Our cabinet did not ignore the severe division we are witnessing, but it asserted that it will work on bridging the gap, committing to the constitution, and implementing the Taef accord in full,” he said.
“The accord will help restore trust between the Lebanese and provide them with justice,” he stated.
Addressing the possession of arms outside the state’s authority, Miqati said that his government did not ignore this issue.
Maintaining security is the state’s responsibility and no other side can help it in this mission, he added.
“Removing the arms from the cities is one of the cabinet’s primary demands,” he stressed.
“The government was born out a pure Lebanese will, perhaps for the first time in its history,” the premier noted.
“Should the country remain without a government?” he asked.
In addition, rejected claims by some MPs that a coup was staged and the cabinet was therefore formed through unconstitutional means.
The government will not seek to achieve vengeance as some have alleged, the prime minister added.
On the use of the word “respect” instead of “commitment” regarding the government’s position on international agreements and resolutions, Miqati said: “This word is more important than ‘commitment’ because it is used in the constitution as the President respects the constitution.”
Commenting on the use of the term “in principle” in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon clause in the policy statement, he stated: “Former PM Saad Hariri used it in a speech once when he said that ‘we commit to cooperating with the STL, which was formed in principle to achieve justice.’”
“The cabinet is keen on Lebanon’s stability, unity, and peace because it believes that the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was aimed at destroying the country’s stability and peace,” he added.
“The government is not shying away from its commitment to the martyrs,” he stressed.
“It’s shameful to accuse the cabinet of this,” he emphasized.
“I am not abusing the STL and justice in order to remain in power … I will not back down from the demand to achieve justice,” Miqati declared.
“The government is determined to cooperate with the STL and United Nations Security Council resolution 1757 on it,” he said.
Furthermore, the prime minister added that he will follow what his conscience and loyalty to Hariri dictate.
almost 13 years
A very strong and good statement of intent by Mikati, one that should give comfort to the international community with regard to the intentions of Mr. Mikati and his government.
Too bad that he was preempted on Saturday night by Hassan Nasrallah who gave the real policy position of this government in his one hour address wherein he trashed the UN, Resolution 1757 and the STL.
There is a conflict between Mikati's statement of today and Nasrallah's of July 3. And who among the Lebanese would believe that Nasrallah will not work his will against Mikati, or force his will on to the Lebanese?
Poor, poor Mikati trying to justify the use of the words "commit" or "respect". The nuances of language are fine, indeed, but one does not come to a gun fight with a dictionary. Nasrallah speaks with his weapons and thugs in the street. This cover from Mikati is thin. Only with the fall of Assad in Syria will we be rid of the gang that has control of Lebanon.
almost 13 years
Guys help me out, did Hezballah scrap the financing of their "Shiite trying to pass for a Christian" program I haven't seen my Shiite brother Le Finicien anywhere for a long long time except under exiting new names. Maybe they got what they wanted from the program and have moved the financing to their "creative documentation" branch, I was told that Iranian money is not what it used to be and transporting it through Syria is not as reliable as it once was.
almost 13 years
Oh happy day, less than an hour following my intervention Iran has decided to resume the financing of Hezballah's "Shiite trying to pass for a Christian" program lead by Shiite brother extraordinaire Le Finicien. If you havent noticed he's resumed his postings like mad mascaraing as a Christian all over this website but also using his other admittedly Shiite personas.
God bless Iran and it's petrodollars allowing a Shiite to pass for a Christian on Naharnet, but please my Iranian Muslim friends remember if you decide to follow your government financed example of my Shiite brother Le Finicien who's faking it and want to become a Christian in Iran for real you will be punished with death to no longer alive forever until judgment day.
"The government is determined to cooperate with the STL and United Nations Security Council resolution 1757 on it" ... but what does groundhog Hassan with the guns and the black shirts and the wagging finger has to say about this, Najeep I suggest you go to YouTube and type in Nasrallah STL or Hezbollah STL and you will see that you are lying to us, Mr newly minted PM you are starting your regime with a lie that's a no no.