Local News
New Offers Made to Aoun In Bid to End Cabinet Crisis
By Naharnet
Jul 1, 2008 - 4:38:13 AM

New offers were reportedly made to Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun in yet another attempt to end the five-week-old government crisis.
The daily An Nahar, citing well-informed sources, said Saniora offered Aoun a "compromise formula" such as the Free Patriotic Movement leader picks one of two service-related cabinet portfolios – telecommunications or public works – while the other goes to a person accepted and not chosen by him.

An Nahar quoted local observers as saying they expect Aoun to come out with a "flexible stance" regarding that offer.

It said President Michel Suleiman also seemed "neither frustrated nor pessimistic" over a speedy formation of the cabinet.

The daily said there is a chance that the cabinet will be announced soon, particularly in light of Suleiman's July 12 visit to Paris – or else the president will have to cancel his trip.

Meanwhile, the pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat spoke of a separate offer. It said Suleiman has demanded the intervention of Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in an effort to break the deadlock over the cabinet make-up in view of Aoun's requests.

It said an offer was made by Franjieh followed by another one made by Berri's aide Ali Hasan Khalil suggesting that Aoun gets three and not four portfolios – telecommunications, public works and industry – plus a state minister.

The offer suggests that the ministries of economy and public works would be given to non-Aounists, while an Armenian minister affiliated with Aoun's parliamentary bloc would be given a state minister post and Issam Abu Jamra would make a grab for deputy premier.
Al Hayat said the offer was conveyed to Aoun through Suleiman's circles and not via Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora who was said to have "frozen" contacts with the Christian opposition chief leaving the President to pursue the issue.

For its part, the daily As Safir said contacts among opposition leaders and a meeting that grouped Aoun and Franjieh Sunday evening as well as talks between the opposition and the President have backed a call for fair participation in the future cabinet.

Al Akhbar newspaper, meanwhile, said there seems to be a tendency to meet Aoun's demands despite objection by some pro-government Christian leaders, particularly Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces.

It said the deal, if accepted, would give Aoun's bloc the deputy premier post plus the ministries of telecommunications and public works, while stripping him of the social affairs portfolio which will likely go to a Christian from the ruling March 14 coalition. 
 
 

Beirut, 01 Jul 08, 08:24