Issues of Hezbollah's arms may delay Lebanese new cabinet's policy statement
Issues of Hezbollah's arms may delay Lebanese new cabinet's policy statement
20:22, November 16, 2009 
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Issues regarding Hezbollah's arms might delay formulation of the newly-formed Lebanese government's policy statement, media reports said on Monday.
Local newspaper al-Nahar said that the ministerial committee tasked with writing the cabinet platform might not vote on the draft during its second meeting, which will be headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday, due to disagreement over the issue between the majority and opposition.
Ministerial sources told al-Nahar that some majority March 14 Alliance committee members might express reservations on the issue of resisting against Israel despite an agreement to adopt the article based on the one adopted by the previous cabinet.
Majority sources said that they weren't satisfied with the article on international resolutions because it only mentions Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. They added that the article on the resistance will also be subjected to amendment.
Lebanon's national-unity government was formed after more than four months of negotiations between the Western and Saudi-backed majority and Hezbollah-dominant opposition. Hezbollah now holds two portfolios in the new 30-seat cabinet.
The majority March 14 Alliance said during the parliamentary election campaign in June that all the arms should be put under the control of the state.
The local newspaper Daily Star reported on Monday that Hezbollah officials on the weekend stressed the party's role in resisting Israeli occupation.
"No rational individual would deny Hezbollah its role in resisting Israeli occupation," the Mohammad Fneish, a Hezbollah member and the new cabinet's state minister for administrative development said on Sunday.
However, Public Works and Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi, a member of the majority, told Hezbollah's al-Manar TV on Sunday that the ministerial statement cannot provide solutions to the issue of the resistance's weapons.
A draft statement issued by the ministerial committee said that the policy statement is expected to be issued before the country's Independence Day on November 22, while the issue of Hezbollah's arms would be left to discussions during national dialogue sessions.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of rearming after two suspected rocket blasts happened respectively in July and October in South Lebanon, however, Hezbollah denies the charge.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the latest report on the implementation of the Resolution 1701 in late October that all the militants in Lebanon, especially Hezbollah's should be disarmed for the stability of the region.
Source: Xinhua
Local newspaper al-Nahar said that the ministerial committee tasked with writing the cabinet platform might not vote on the draft during its second meeting, which will be headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday, due to disagreement over the issue between the majority and opposition.
Ministerial sources told al-Nahar that some majority March 14 Alliance committee members might express reservations on the issue of resisting against Israel despite an agreement to adopt the article based on the one adopted by the previous cabinet.
Majority sources said that they weren't satisfied with the article on international resolutions because it only mentions Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. They added that the article on the resistance will also be subjected to amendment.
Lebanon's national-unity government was formed after more than four months of negotiations between the Western and Saudi-backed majority and Hezbollah-dominant opposition. Hezbollah now holds two portfolios in the new 30-seat cabinet.
The majority March 14 Alliance said during the parliamentary election campaign in June that all the arms should be put under the control of the state.
The local newspaper Daily Star reported on Monday that Hezbollah officials on the weekend stressed the party's role in resisting Israeli occupation.
"No rational individual would deny Hezbollah its role in resisting Israeli occupation," the Mohammad Fneish, a Hezbollah member and the new cabinet's state minister for administrative development said on Sunday.
However, Public Works and Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi, a member of the majority, told Hezbollah's al-Manar TV on Sunday that the ministerial statement cannot provide solutions to the issue of the resistance's weapons.
A draft statement issued by the ministerial committee said that the policy statement is expected to be issued before the country's Independence Day on November 22, while the issue of Hezbollah's arms would be left to discussions during national dialogue sessions.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of rearming after two suspected rocket blasts happened respectively in July and October in South Lebanon, however, Hezbollah denies the charge.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the latest report on the implementation of the Resolution 1701 in late October that all the militants in Lebanon, especially Hezbollah's should be disarmed for the stability of the region.
Source: Xinhua
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