In an interview with Al-Manar Website, Change and Reform MP Salim Salhab pointed out that March 14 is hiding “something big”, revealed support for Speaker Nabih Berri’s call to hold a general session.

 

Member of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc in Lebanon MP Salim Salhab said that the failure of the media and telecommunications parliamentary committee in forming of a parliamentary investigative committee over the “dangerous incidents” which erupted last week in the Telecoms ministry was proof that the March 14 forces were scared of the truth. He expressed belief that there was “something big” that the mentioned forces were seeking to hide or cover through their suspicious practices.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar website, Salhab denied rumors about reaching compromises and ending the whole debate. He stressed that the Change and Reform bloc would continue the battle until the end.

The MP called for a 24-hour chance before taking a final stance towards President Michel Sleiman’s call for taking legal procedures against Internal Security Chief Ashraf Rifi for refusing direct orders from Interior Minister Ziad Baroud. He also expressed support for Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s call to hold a general session, stressing that the Parliament was its own master.

On the cabinet crisis, the Change and Reform bloc lawmaker said that Prime Minister-Designate Najib Miqati has no intention to form the new government. He expressed belief that external factors were basically behind the current delay in the cabinet formation process.

MARCH 14 FORCES COVERING ‘SOMETHING BIG’

In his interview with Al-Manar Website, MP Salhab commented on the Telecoms and Media meeting Monday over the Telecoms ministry incidents. The meeting failed in forming a specialized technical team to determine “what lies on the second floor of the International Communications Center building in Beirut. The failure came after March 14 MPs argued with their colleagues over “who has the authority to appoint the Ogero Telecom member in the team”.

Salhab said that “this failure confirms the March 14 forces were scared of the truth that could unfold”. He added that forming an investigative team was the “least the Telecoms committee could do following last week’s coup”.

He added that the March 14 lawmakers were clear in their attempt to hide the truth. “They are seeking to cover something big...and we are not sure of what it is yet”. He noted that the suspicious conduct of Internal Security Chief Ashraf Rifi and OGERO Director General Abdul Men’em Youssef raised many question marks. “There is no doubt they’re seeking to hide something big and dangerous to the level they are forcing themselves to violate all laws and constitutions,” he went on to say.

Salhab pointed out that the other bloc should have supported the formation of the investigative committee given that it is the side that accused Telecoms Minister of violating rules and norms.

WE WILL CONTINUE TELCOMS BATTLE UNTIL END

The Change and Reform bloc lawmaker stressed that what happened last week, when some 400 heavily-equipped members from the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch banned Telecoms Minister in the caretaker government Charbel Nahhas from entering the second story of a building attached to the ministry in Beirut, was a “coup” with the whole sense of the word. “If they were convinced they have the right to do what they are doing, they would act in another manner,” he stressed.

He said the Change and Reform bloc would continue the battle until the end, “regardless of its results and repercussions”. He also denied rumors about compromises over the issue. “The Change and Reform bloc, spearheaded by its chief MP General Michel Aoun will continue the battle until the end. We can’t remain quiet over such a dangerous development.”

Salhab hailed as a “positive development” President Michel Sleiman’s recent position as to calling for taking leagal measures against towards ISF Chief Rifi. He called, however, for a 24-hour deadline before taking a final stance on the development, and expected that a clear stance would be taken following Tuesday’s Change and Reform bloc regular meeting.

According to a statement from the Presidential Palace, President Michel Sleiman ordered the Justice Ministry to take legal measures against ISF chief Ashraf Rifi over the Telecoms Ministry dispute. Rifi refused to respond to direct orders from Interior Minister in the caretaker government Ziad Baroud to evacuate the Telecoms building.

PARLIAMENT IS ITS OWN MASTER

Meanwhile, Salhab backed the call of Speaker Nabih Berri to hold a parliamentary session on June 8 to discuss legal proposals and draft laws. He said his bloc supports such a session and stressed it was constitutional.

The Change and Reform MP said his bloc would take part in the mentioned session and expressed hope the parliamentary quorum would be secured, paving the way for the Parliament to start assuming its responsibilities amid the current governmental void.

On March 14 fears that the Parliament would take the role of the government, Salhab said that the Parliament was after all “its own master”. He stressed Berri’s initiative was completely constitutional, “as the Lebanese system is democratic and parliamentarian. The participation in the session is therefore a duty, not a choice,” he said.

But what if the March 14 bloc boycotted the session?
Salhab said he wished the March 14 bloc knew what it wanted. “It seems the March 14 forces lost their mind when they lost authority and the government. They thought they lost everything. But, after all, this is the democratic game. They have to perceive this reality.”

TAEF AGREEMENT COULD BE AMENDED

Salhab also agreed with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai’s belief that the Taef Agreement contains some gaps, and could be reconsidered. Earlier in the day, the patriarch called for an amendment of the Taif Accord in order to increase the president’s powers “to stabilize the country’s political situation”. “If a second Taif was necessary to amend these gaps, so be it,” Rai said, adding that the current paralysis proves the need for the president to have greater political powers.

The Taif Accord, signed in 1989, brought to an end the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War and reformed Lebanon's political system by transferring executive powers from the president to the Cabinet.

Salhab noted that the Lebanese needed some 21 years to adopt the Taef Accord, in part and with all the gaps it has. Therefore, he announced his support to finding out a specific mechanism to fill in the gaps and create a better way to adopt the Accord.

On the claims by some Lebanese parties that the Taef agreement cannot not be touched, Salhab said: “This is our opinion. We say it loudly, without hesitation. It’s our right and we will do our best to carry it out through democratic norms.”

MIQATI HAS NO INTENTION TO FORM GOVERNMENT

The Lebanese MP stressed fortifying the internal scene resided in accelerating the cabinet formation and adopting reform practices, “instead of begging outsiders”.

Salhab undermined accusations against his party of obstructing the cabinet formation process. “They accuse us of everything in the country. We are even responsible of the weather conditions, whether it was sunny or rainy,” he said. “We only demand our basic rights. However, they create the obstacles, one after another,” he pointed out.

Salhab said that the Change and Reform was convinced “Prime Minister-Designate Najib Miqati has not the intention to form the new government…the reasons behind the delay in the cabinet formation process are basically external”.