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New cabinet of ministers of Lebanon wants to separate foreign policy from operation of government: Chatham House's expert

Politics Materials 10 November 2009 22:56 (UTC +04:00)
Words by Saad al-Hariri, who heads a new Lebanese government, that this event opens a new page in the Lebanese history, are both constructive and rhetorical, said Nadim Shehadi, Associate Fellow for the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the British Institute of International Affairs Chatham House.

Azerbaijan, Baku, November 10 / Trend , U.Sadikhova /

Words by Saad al-Hariri, who heads a new Lebanese government, that this event opens a new page in the Lebanese history, are both constructive and rhetorical, said Nadim Shehadi, Associate Fellow for the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the British Institute of International Affairs Chatham House.

Al-Hariri proposes to find a way to ensure operation of institutions in the country, for example, establishing infrastructure, Shehadi, an expert on Lebanese politics, told Trend by telephone. - The present government proposes to separate the serious and unresolved problems of foreign policy from the operation of the government.

On Monday, announcing completed the formation of a new government in Lebanon, parliamentary majority leader Saad al-Hariri declared the opening of a new page in the history of Lebanon, expressing hope that the national unity government will put an end to domestic political disputes. Al-Hariri added that he would work with all representatives of the new government to restore the trust of the Lebanese people in his leadership, the Al Jazeera Net website reported.

The new government formed four months after parliamentary elections included 30 ministers, 15 of whom are supporters of the ruling coalition, 10 - opposition members and five ministers - representatives of President Michel Sleiman, including minister of defense and interior minister.

Unlike the former governments, the veto right in the office of al-Hariri belongs to neither ruling coalition nor the opposition, led by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah party. According to the British expert Shehadi, Lebanese by nationality, the new national unity government was possible, because its structure satisfies the requirements of all parties.

Over a long period, when discussions were continuing, the Lebanese political parties were able to develop a formula that meets the political ambitions and requirements of all members of the Cabinet of Ministers, he added.

Analysts believe that the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon, according to the agreement in Doha in 2008 was made possible after the reconciliation of Saudi Arabia - Al-Hariri's ally - and Syria, which has traditionally supported Hezbollah.   

Regarding the improvement of relations between the Government of Al-Hariri and Damascus, which several Arab and European countries and the United States accused of involvement in the assassination of al-Hariri's father, former prime minister and billionaire Rafiq al-Hariri, Shehadi said that this is one of the most sensitive and difficult issues of the Lebanese politics, the solution of which the new prime minister separates from unlocking operation of the national government.

Nevertheless, according to Western media and official statements by Israeli officials, problems in the new government of al-Hariri can arise because of the participation of Hezbollah, which arms and increases the number of missiles to be able to repulse Israeli attacks against Lebanon. UN demanded the disarmament of the Lebanese party in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted on the end of the second Israeli-Lebanese war. The reason for this was two explosions in southern Lebanon, where, as expected, Hezbollah deployed its military warehouses.

Shehadi does not exclude that the issue of Hezbollah's armament can lead to a new political crisis in Lebanon, but the most important thing for the new Cabinet of Ministers is to avoid the outbreak of a new confrontation.

"The current Cabinet of Ministers will have a choice between the paralysis of action and confrontation, and they [the government] will choose the first, because they do not want the appearance of new disputes."

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