Salam Fears Vacuum, Urges Rival Parties to Reach Consensus over Presidency
Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Sunday that if the March 8 and 14 alliances exerted efforts to reach an agreement over a presidential candidate then the deadlock in the country will end, warning of any possible of vacuum at the country's top Christian post.
“We still have one week before the deadline ends,” Salam said in an interview with the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.
He pointed out that there's difference between a “vacant post” and vacuum, saying he is keen to preserve the balance between the power-sharing agreement under which the president should be a Maronite, the premier a Sunni and the speaker a Shiite.
The PM considered that the sharp differences among the Christian leaders, in particular Maronites, has a negative impact on the local developments.
“It's a bitter situation,” Salam said describing the ongoing dispute over the presidential poll.
He expressed belief that the disputes among the political arch-foes over presidency will also have negative repercussion on the parliament, which has other pressing issues to debate.
“It all falls within the uncomfortable climate in the country, which will thwart any productive endeavor,” Salam told the newspaper.
Asked about reports saying that the presidential elections in Lebanon are linked to the re-election of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the premier considered that all local constitutional deadlines “should be made in Lebanon.”
On the dissociation policy adopted by the Lebanese state, Salam said that his cabinet will hold onto it.
“We adopted the dissociation policy in our ministerial statement” the PM remarked.
Concerning the Syrian refugees crisis, Salam said that a ministerial committee is actively following up the matter and is mulling the establishment of Syrian refugee camps on Syrian territories or in buffer zones between the Lebanese-Syrian border.
“We are in dire need for support... We will continue seeking the aid of international counties to ease the burden of the refugees on Lebanon.”
The premier said that any “refugee camps for Syrians fleeing their country should be in safe zones away from any possible violence.”
Lebanon has not signed the international refugee convention, but had generally kept its border open to people fleeing the conflict in Syria despite the scale of the influx.
The country hosts more refugees from Syria than any other country, with 52,000 Palestinians among a total of more than a million. It now has the highest refugee population per capita in the world.
Salam said that his visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday is thank Saudi officials for their support to Lebanon over the years.
Asked about the kingdom's grant to the Lebanese army, the PM denied any delay in aiding the army.
“No obstacles were reported and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji will soon visit Saudi Arabia to finalize the deal,” he added.
President Michel Suleiman unveiled the three billion dollar grant in late December.
It is aimed at purchasing French weapons for the Lebanese army as soon as possible.
Qahwaji had traveled to Saudi Arabia and France in January in order to discuss the grant.
Officials concerned with Lebanese affairs in the French administration told Naharnet on January 20 that the Saudi donation will include weaponry used for military and security sources to enable troops to face terrorist and security challenges in the country, and arms and equipment to monitor the border.
Salam hailed a Saudi decision to lift a travel ban to Lebanon.
“It is all linked to stability in Lebanon,” he noted.
On Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri and Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon announced that the kingdom lifted a travel ban to Lebanon after the security situation improved in the country.
Salam unveiled that he will tour Gulf countries after his visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday in order to fortify cooperation with them.
H.K.
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