Date: Nov 23, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Aoun warns against further delays in govt formation Hussein Dakroub| The Daily Star BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Wednesday warned political rivals against wasting more time in the formation of a new Cabinet, saying a further delay would weaken the country’s abilities to produce and resolve the deepening economic crisis. In a televised speech addressing the Lebanese on the eve of the 75th anniversary of Lebanon’s independence, Aoun urged all officials, parties and sects to brush aside their differences and show a sense of responsibility toward the Lebanese. Aoun’s warning came as Lebanon prepared to mark Independence Day Thursday without a functioning government for the second consecutive year as premier-designate Saad Hariri’s attempts to form a new Cabinet have been bogged down since last month by a last-minute snag arising from a demand by six Hezbollah-backed Sunni MPs for representation. While the six Sunni MPs’ demand has been backed by Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, it has been rejected by Hariri on the grounds that these lawmakers had not formed a unified parliamentary bloc. An imminent Cabinet formation , which this week enters its seventh month of deadlock, seemed unlikely as the three parties concerned with the issue Hariri, Hezbollah and the six MPs stood firm on their positions. While Future Movement lawmakers Wednesday called on Hezbollah to present the names of its three ministers so as to facilitate the Cabinet formation, the party responded by urging the prime minister-designate to name one of the six MPs as a minister as the only solution for the problem.At the end of the independence reception at Baabda Palace Thursday, Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Hariri are scheduled to meet to discuss a solution to the representation issue of the six Sunni MPs. “Lebanon is undergoing today a government formation crisis. It is true that it is not one of a kind, as we have previously experienced it in the past years. It also happened and is happening in states with a long-standing democratic and civilizational heritage; but it makes us lose time irreversibly, and blocks our abilities to produce and follow up the interests and affairs of the country and the citizens, in particular to address the economic situation,” Aoun said in his speech. “If you want the state to rise, remember that Lebanon does not have anymore the luxury of wasting time.” Noting that Lebanon has gone through hard times, wars, occupations and trusteeships since gaining independence 75 years ago, Aoun underlined the importance of maintaining national unity to safeguard independence. “You have paid a lot to achieve real independence, and to have a nation with a sovereign decision. It is the responsibility of all of us to preserve this independence, and the first safeguard thereof is by maintaining our national unity, and our will of coexistence within the frame of human and social values which are stronger than all laws, and which bind and unite us, knowing that every fault here paves the way for a fault there,” he said. “My call today to all officials, parties, movements and confessions, on this national occasion which inflames our hearts with pride and glory, is to reject our differences, set aside our personal interests and show a sense of responsibility towards those who entrusted us with their fate, their livelihood affairs, the dignity of their existence and the welfare of their families; toward the Lebanese people who are sick of promises,” Aoun added. The president stressed that it is the leaders’ duty to reassure the Lebanese about their future, and “to get along in Parliament and in the Cabinet, striving day and night to plan and work on rescuing our country economically, socially, environmentally and ethically.” He said that while priority was in the past given to ensuring security and stability and distancing Lebanon from regional turmoil, attention now shifted to addressing the economic situation. “Today, after having achieved that [stability], it is indispensable to embark on tackling the pressing economic situation as well as the citizens’ fears and livelihood concerns,” Aoun said. “It is no longer possible to make do with local instantaneous treatments, and to postpone the desired reform at all levels, especially that the national economic plan has become clear and awaits the adoption of its schemes and decisions in the Cabinet and Parliament.” Aoun also vowed to fight rampant corruption in the public administration, largely blamed for endemic budget deficits. “We will not let the country moan longer, we will not be lenient in countering corruption and the corrupt, and we will not draw back on promises of reform, sustainable development and finding work opportunities for our youth.” Meanwhile, caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, whose mediation efforts in the issue of representing the six Sunni MPs in the new government, have so far failed to make any headway, said he would press ahead with his attempts to resolve the problem. “An agreement has been reached with the parties concerned on principles related to true representation and the criteria of the Cabinet formation, after which we move to more practical ideas because we are continuing the efforts we started,” Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, told reporters. A source close to Hariri told The Daily Star that the premier-designate would not accept the six MPs to be represented in the next government either from the Future Movement’s share or from other blocs’ share. “The Cabinet lineup is ready. Hezbollah is required to present the names of its [three] ministers. This is the only problem delaying the formation,” Future MP Mohammed Hajjar told the Free Lebanon radio station. But Hezbollah’s deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem renewed the party’s call on Hariri to represent the six MPs. “In our conviction, the formation key lies with the prime minister. The way to resolve [this problem] is for [Hariri] to name one [of the six MPs] as minister or anyone acceptable to the independent Sunni MPs,” Qassem said. “The representation of the independent Sunnis is the only way for a solution.”