UN envoy hopes Lebanon’s new government will soon be formed

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United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams on Thursday said that he hoped the country’s new government will soon be formed, according to a statement issued by his office.

When meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, Williams said that in the near future Mikati will be able to form a government, which will be able to meet the challenges that Lebanon faces and its international obligations.

“We also discussed the question of the National Dialogue, which I believe has been a very important mechanism in the past under the chairmanship of President [Michel] Sleiman,” Williams added.

“We hope that the president can continue in his endeavors in chairing a body like that. It could be an important forum for discussing many issues including that of a national defense strategy,” Williams said.

The Hezbollah-nominated Mikati was appointed as prime minister- designate on Jan. 25 following the collapse of Saad Hariri’s unity government due to the long-time stalemate on the issue of 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri who is Saad Hariri’s father.

The western-backed March 14 Alliance announced that it will not take part in a government headed by Mikati. Xinhua

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