Chatah: Feltman did not discuss Lebanese cabinet formation

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Former Lebanese Finance minister Mohammad Chatah who is the current political adviser to caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri denied on Saturday discussing the formation of a new Lebanese cabinet with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman during their meeting in Beirut .

“Feltman did not discuss the situation of the government with us, but of course, there are concerns about the existing political vacuum,” Chatah told MTV.

Chatah said that Feltman has already reiterated the US’ position that “it will not interfere in the formation of the cabinet.

Similarly president Michel Suleiman’s sources told al-Mustaqbal daily on Saturday that the U.S. official did not discuss the government formation process or any other internal Lebanese affair with the president.

Suleiman’s sources revealed that the talks with the president focused on the situation in Syria and attempts to create Sunni-Alawite strife there, as well as attempts to create Sunni-Shiite strife in the region.

The sources said Feltman expressed his concern over the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and called on the Lebanese government to work with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and other international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross to fulfill its obligations under international law to provide protection to Syrian citizens fleeing the violence in Syria.

Similarly PM Designate Nagib Mikati’s sources told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that Feltman in his meeting explained the American policy in the region and its interest in the changes and reforms, especially those taking place in Syria.

The Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005.

Lebanon has been run by a caretaker government since last January. Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the Hezbollah led-March 8 alliance, MPs Walid Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi . March 14 leaders have repeatedly said that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination.

So far Mikati has not been able to form a government. New obstacles came up after an agreement was reached on naming retired Brigadier Marwan Charbel as the Interior Ministry …. MP Michel Aoun is strongly against allocating any share in the cabinet to president Suleiman . Aoun is also insisting on naming all the Christian Maronite ministers, An Nahar sources reported

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8 responses to “Chatah: Feltman did not discuss Lebanese cabinet formation”

  1. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    it is in USA’s interest to see no govt formed in Lebanon with all what’s happenign in the arab world at the moment. 

    1. 316909 Avatar

      Its in HA, Iran and Syrian interest not to have a government in Lebanon so when the STL issues arrest warrens Lebanon will not be able to act and Harriri is not to blame. Nothing can be done with a caretaker government. Why wouldnt the U.S want a government in Lebanon AND HOW WOULD THEY BE STOOPING THE FORMATION WHEN MARCH 8 WHO IS ALLIED WITH SYRIA AND IRAN ARE THE ONLY BLOCK TRYING TO PUT A GOVERNMENT TOGETHER? Next thing we should start seeing is march 8 supporters accusing the U.S for the illegal construction in Lebanon ( all of it in HA areas) and the  people in HA areas that dont pay power but demand and burn tires when the government sends them a power bill. What I dont understand is how the people that are breaking the law daily like HA can act like they support the law in Lebanon. Weapons dealers, Drug dealers, Smugglers, Car Theft, illegal construction on government property, Attacking police for issuing a ticket among other things are all blamed on the U.S and Israel correct? I just went to the market and they didnt have redbull so im sure the american and israeli took all the redbull….

      1. antar2011 Avatar
        antar2011

        i stand to be corrected.

        thank you for your post.

    2. 316909 Avatar

      Its in HA, Iran and Syrian interest not to have a government in Lebanon so when the STL issues arrest warrens Lebanon will not be able to act and Harriri is not to blame. Nothing can be done with a caretaker government. Why wouldnt the U.S want a government in Lebanon AND HOW WOULD THEY BE STOOPING THE FORMATION WHEN MARCH 8 WHO IS ALLIED WITH SYRIA AND IRAN ARE THE ONLY BLOCK TRYING TO PUT A GOVERNMENT TOGETHER? Next thing we should start seeing is march 8 supporters accusing the U.S for the illegal construction in Lebanon ( all of it in HA areas) and the  people in HA areas that dont pay power but demand and burn tires when the government sends them a power bill. What I dont understand is how the people that are breaking the law daily like HA can act like they support the law in Lebanon. Weapons dealers, Drug dealers, Smugglers, Car Theft, illegal construction on government property, Attacking police for issuing a ticket among other things are all blamed on the U.S and Israel correct? I just went to the market and they didnt have redbull so im sure the american and israeli took all the redbull….

      1. antar2011 Avatar
        antar2011

        i stand to be corrected.

        thank you for your post.

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    it is in USA’s interest to see no govt formed in Lebanon with all what’s happenign in the arab world at the moment. 

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

       Its in HA, Iran and Syrian interest not to have a government in Lebanon so when the STL issues arrest warrens Lebanon will not be able to act and Harriri is not to blame. Nothing can be done with a caretaker government. Why wouldnt the U.S want a government in Lebanon AND HOW WOULD THEY BE STOOPING THE FORMATION WHEN MARCH 8 WHO IS ALLIED WITH SYRIA AND IRAN ARE THE ONLY BLOCK TRYING TO PUT A GOVERNMENT TOGETHER. Next thing we should start seeing is march 8 supporters accusing the U.S for the illegal construction in Lebanon ( all of it in HA areas) and the  people in HA areas that dont pay power but demand and burn tires when the government sends them a power bill.

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        i stand to be corrected.

        thank you for your post.

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