Sources close to Gulf governments
reported on Friday that the political situation in Lebanon is "on the
brink of explosion," noting that the country had succeeded, during the last
two years, in managing its internal affairs until "Hezbollah's involvement
in the fighting in Syria's al-Qusayr and Homs".
The same sources told
As-Safir Daily that "Hezbollah's open involvement in the Syrian conflict has
taken a toll on Lebanon," adding that "the Gulf states are adamant on punishing
the group".
The sources also said that
the Gulf states will do their utmost to make Hezbollah "pay the price" of the
said involvement, adding however that they are keen on shielding other Lebanese
parties from potential repercussions.
The parliamentary delegation
that was designated by Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to meet today (Friday)
with President Michel Sleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Prime
Minister-Designate Tammam Salam.
In this regard, Speaker
Berri told
An-Nahar newspaper that the road map he proposed aims at pulling
Lebanon out of the current crisis, paving the way for the formation of a new government.
Future bloc MP Jean
Ogasapian stressed that "Hezbollah did not show any flexibility in the formation
of a new government," noting that the group is still setting "crippling"
conditions in a bid to hurdle the cabinet formation process.
In this context, MP
Ogasapian told the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah daily that the March 14 coalition
has accepted the proposal of President Michel Sleiman and Prime
Minister-Designate Tammam Salam who called for the formation of a cabinet that
does not include a blocking third.
"In turn, Hezbollah rejected
the said formula in order to take unilateral stances on the foreign, security
and strategic levels," MP Ogasapian
added.
Caretaker Environment
Minister Nazem Khoury said that contacts between US Secretary of State John
Kerry and President Michel Sleiman are "paramount" amid the current circumstances
Lebanon and the region are going through.
Khoury told the
Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah newspaper that US Secretary of State Kerry praised the
policies of President Sleiman who works on distancing Lebanon from regional
conflicts, mainly the Syrian crisis.
Caretaker Minister Khoury
also pointed out that the US hailed the policy of moderation adopted by President
Sleiman who has shielded Lebanon from negative repercussions in light of regional
incidents.