Yesterday the Arab Foreign Ministers and the Arab League offered a plan to end the crises in Lebanon and today parliament majority leader Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri, a key member of the opposition gave their blessings to the plan
Hariri, in a statement released by his press office, said the statement issued by the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo confirms the need to "fill in the vacuum at the presidential office and the need to shift quickly to set the constitutional mechanism that would allow parliament to convene and carry out the resulting consensus on Gen. Suleiman without any pre-conditions."
"On behalf of all the free people in Lebanon I thank … whoever played a role in achieving this historic Arab stand regarding Lebanon," Hariri said.
He paid special tribute to "Arab kings and presidents who crystallized the trends included in the Cairo declaration."
"At the same time I address all my Lebanese brethren, from all the political factions, calling for the widest solidarity with this declaration and with the Arab will to protect Lebanon and salvage the presidency from vacuum," Hariri said.
He said the Cairo meeting resulted in an "achievement in favor of Lebanon's interest … we are determined to adhere to the Arab Road Map leading to the election of Gen. Michel Suleiman president."
Similarly Speaker welcomed a decision by the Arab Foreign ministers backing the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president and expressed hope for its implementation.
Berri, in a statement, praised "Arab unanimity on (safeguarding) Lebanon's supreme interest."
The foreign ministers adopted an "historic stand in support of inter-Lebanese consensus" by urging Suleiman's election and the formation of a national unity government .
Berri, in a statement distributed by the state-run national news agency, paid tribute to "Arab kings, presidents and ministers as well as Arab League Secretary General (Amr Moussa) for efforts exerted to accomplish" the stand adopted during a meeting in Cairo on Saturday.
"We hope it would be carried out in reality," Berri said.
He concluded by stressing: "I tell the Lebanese people that we can proceed from the Arab statement to Lebanese implementation that stresses on our unity and guarantees our safety."
Does this mean the solution for the Lebanese crises is behind us .
Not really !
According to al Manar TV station the mouthpiece of Hezbollah , there were conditions in the Arab FM agreement that were not publicly disclosed. Which allegedly are:
1- The government of national unity will have 30 ministers : 10 for the majority, 10 for the opposition and 10 for the president . The question is , if this is true will this be acceptable to the majority?
2- The new election law will be based on Qathaa ( district )
3- The new elections will take place before the term of the present parliament expires . Again the question is , if this is true will this be acceptable to the majority?
Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt expressed optimism today “ I believe if all what was said and we have read is true , then I think the election of the president will take place next Saturday , January 12th “ he told reporters after visiting Sheikh Abu Mohammad Jawad Walieddine , a prominent Druze spiritual authority . Jumblatt’s optimism carries a lot of weight since he is considered the antenna of the Lebanese politics .
Even the Syrian Foreign minister sounded optimistic ( but ironic ) when he told al Manar TV “ No one can force solutions on the Lebanese and we support whatever they agree on between themselves . The Arab decision is a first step to ending the crises and Moussa will be the one who will take from here . The irony here is that Syria is known to be behind the blocking of a Lebanese settlement.
The big question remains : What will Hezbollah’s reaction be ?
According to reports coming from Damascus Ali Larijani , Representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader to the Supreme National Security Council , who is currently visiting Syria told reporters( after meeting with Syrian president Basher al Assad and VP Farouk al Sharaa ) that Iran and Syria have identical views with regards to the solution of the Lebanese crises . If this is the case what will he tell Hezbollah to do?
No word so far from Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah but Hezbollah MP Hussein el Hajj Hassan , didn’t echo Moallem ‘s optimism, when he said “ we will have to read between the fine line ( of the Arab proposal ) before we respond . We won’t be deceived again ! Mind you Hassan is known as Mr. Gloom . What will carry more weight will be Nasrallah’s reaction. Lets wait and hope for more optimism
Hassan’s reaction was reflected in MP Boutros Harb cautionary comment when he said” lets hope the opposition will not come up with new conditions and Berri calls for a parliament session to amend the constitution and elect Michel Suleiman. “ Harb was one of the leading presidential candidates of the majority .
Moussa told reporters he will be in Lebanon within 48 hours to present the Arab plan to the Lebanese leaders. The question is will he be able to sell the plan.
Moussa’s track record in Lebanon is not encouraging . Lets hope and pray that this time he succeeds . The Lebanese deserve better …it is mighty time that we start living a normal life
