Terro declared that the recently-formed cabinet, headed by Miqati, was effectively a government of confrontation.

Minister Alaa El-Deen Terro to Al-Manar Website:
Yes… We Are A Government of Confrontation!
We Won’t Seek to Confront Any Internal Party…
Berri’s Initiative Ended Deadlock, Paved Way for Cabinet Birth
Dialogue Remains Base… Areslan Should Have Been Calmer
All Regions, including Bekaa, Are Represented in Government
Cabinet Can Fortify Lebanon in Face of Regional Repercussions

Minister of Displaced in the new Lebanese government Alaa El-Deen Terro declared that the recently-formed cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Najib Miqati, was effectively a government of confrontation. He explained that the government will confront problems of all kinds (economic, social, security) in addition to Western pressure. He assured, however, that this government would not seek to confront any Lebanese internal party, but would only seek national unity.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Terro said that the new government was able to fortify the country in the face of the regional repercussions and western pressure. He noted that PM Najib Miqati, was clear when he specified his government’s policies towards the upcoming challenges.

Minister Terro expressed belief that all problems could be resolved through dialogue, and said that State Minister Talal Areslan should have been calmer in this regard. He also rejected as illogical and unrealistic the comments made by some politicians over “the sudden birth of the government” after they had accused the new majority of inability to form the government.

CABINET WILL CONFRONT CRISES… THROUGH UNITY SLOGAN
Terro, who spoke to Al-Manar Website while he was still receiving congratulations for his new ministerial post, said that the government had the responsibility to stand up to political, social, economic and security problems surrounding the country.

He said that this government was able to fortify Lebanon in the face of regional repercussions and western pressures. The minister also noted the government was appropriate at such a sensitive time, in light of the dangerous incidents threatening the whole region.

Asked whether the government was really a “government of confrontation” as circulated by some March 14 political circles, Terro answered: “Yes, it is a confrontation government.” He explained that “the government would work to confront all economic, social and security incidents, in addition to the western pressure facing the country.” Terro noted, however, that the government would not seek to confront any Lebanese internal party. “We will seek to unify all Lebanese,” he said.

Asked about the cabinet’s foreign policy and whether it will be committed to international agreements, including the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Terro noted that the premier was clear when he specified his government’s policies towards the upcoming challenges.

In a speech at the Baabda Palace after the cabinet formation was announced earlier in the day, Miqati stressed that he will remain committed to “the constitution, the liberation of Lebanon’s occupied territory, and dialogue as a means to end dispute among the Lebanese.”

UNREALISTIC, ILLOGICAL CRITICS
Minister Terro slammed as illogical and unrealistic the comments made by some politicians over the ‘sudden birth of the government’ after accusations that the new majority was unable to form the government.

“They used to accuse the new majority of failing to form a government. Now that the cabinet has been formed, they are criticizing us and asking how we could have form the government so quickly. This is unrealistic and illogical.”

The Lebanese minister said that contacts, which were intensified since the mid last week, in reference to the meeting that was held at Parliament between the new majority leaders, contributed in overcoming the majority of the obstacles that were delaying the government formation.

Terro also praised Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who gave up a Shiite portfolio for Faisal Karami, thus creating a precedent of having a Muslim share in the cabinet comprising seven Sunni ministers and five Shiites. He noted that this initiative played a major role in reaching the happy ending that is the cabinet’s birth.

ARESLAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALMER
Terro expressed belief that all issues could be peacefully resolved through dialogue. He also noted that criticism of the government formation was very normal, and recalled that even the national-unity government faced such objection and criticism.

The minister rejected claims that some Lebanese regions were ignored or neglected in the cabinet formation. “All Lebanese regions, including the Bekaa, were represented in the government,” he said. “For instance, the cabinet includes three ministers representing the Bekaa province,” he added, in reference to Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, Culture Minister Gaby Layyoun and Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan.

Asked about MP Talal Areslan’s press conference, in which he announced his resignation from the government, Terro said that “Areslan should have been calmer since all issues could be resolved through dialogue, especially among allies.”

WE WILL CONTINUE DISPLACED PROJECT OF RETURN
Terro, who entered the Ministers’ Club in Lebanon for the first time through the Displaced Ministry, preferred not to go into the details of his ministry before officially assuming his duties, from his predecessor and colleague in the Progressive Socialist Party Minister Akram Chehayeb.

“When we enter the ministry, we will see what we have to do,” he told Al-Manar Website. “Of course, we will continue the return project that was launched by former ministers, mainly Minister Chehayeb,” he concluded.