Lebanon cabinet approves diplomatic appointments

The Lebanese cabinet met Wednesday at the Baabda Palace and approved diplomatic appointments, including selecting ambassadors from state and non-state employees, MTV reported.

MTV also reported that “the ministers of the National Struggle Front block which is headed by MP Walid Jumblatt voiced reservations over the government’s appointment of non-state employees as ambassadors.”

This is the first cabinet session to be held since the assassination of Internal Security Forces intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan. Syria was accused by the opposition of being behind the assassination . The opposition also called on the Hezbollah dominated cabinet to quit.

President Michel Suleiman reiterated his call for dialogue during the session: “The country is going through a difficult period and the situations around us are not easy, that’s why dialogue must be the only path towards resolving the crisis.” He said

Commenting on March 14th call for a national unity cabinet the president said:

“If it is possible to form a national unity government in order to reach a better situation, we are not against this idea and the door is open for everyone.”

Commenting on the statement issued by the March 14 forces on Tuesday, Suleiman pointed out that “March 14’s stances did not close the door on the possibility of engaging in dialogue, and this is something positive.”

On Tuesday, March 14 alliance leaders held a meeting at MP Saad Hariri’s Downtown Beirut residence following which they announced that they are cutting all ties with the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati .

The meeting was attended by former Lebanese President and Phalange party leader Amine Gemayel, Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, as well as several MPs and officials.

Siniora reiterated in a statement read after the meeting March 14′s demand for the government’s resignation, emphasizing that the alliance will continue boycotting all governmental activities until the cabinet is toppled.

The March 14 statement also called for a “neutral, salvation cabinet that endorses the Baabda Declaration as its ministerial Policy Statement.”