Franjieh says government reshuffle inevitable
Health minister makes comments during talks with Sfeir Hanna Khoury
Daily Star correspondent
Health Minister Suleiman Franjieh said Monday that the
prospects of a government change were becoming a reality day after day, while a
“political truce” had taken place due to the volatile regional situation.
“We are currently watching whether Iraq will be attacked as well as the reports about
a possible Israeli strike directed at south Lebanon,” Franjieh told reporters after
calling on the Maronite patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, to congratulate him on
the holidays.
He said that his talks with the prelate covered the “general atmosphere,” and
that politics in the country at present was at a “standstill.”
Franjieh also said that the government, as an institution, should be “activated”
and a system of by-laws be put in place for the Cabinet. He added that he was in favor of
implementing in full the 1989 Taif Accord, which put an end to the country’s civil
war.
“I support implementation of the Taif Accord and have joined the government for this
purpose. But there are those who want it implemented as they see fit. As far as I’m
concerned, many provisions have been applied and the one relating to establishing a system
for the government must be implemented,” he said.
The minister said that unless certain financial moves were made after Lebanon acquired
funds through the “Paris II” donor conference and additional amounts through
privatization, “a catastrophe will result,” due the mounting national debt.
“We now have an opportunity which must not be missed,” he added.
Former Foreign Minister Fouad Butros described the general situation after a similar visit
to the patriarch, as “confused from all angles.”
He said that the prevailing “atmosphere” was probably inappropriate for
President Emile Lahoud to hold a private meeting with the prelate on Christmas, adding
that the matter was “complicated and deep-rooted.”
Butros said he was confident the Qornet Shehwan opposition group, “whether I support
it or not,” was fully ready to participate in a dialogue with the president.
The gathering had wondered whether under the present circumstances a dialogue was useful,
“but it did not indicate its intent to stop the dialogue,” he added.
Butros said he did not believe the formation of a new government would end the
country’s problems. “Anything short of a new vision to deal with internal and
external problems is meaningless,” he added.
Kesrouan MP Fares Boueiz, who is also a former Foreign Minister, denied that he had
visited the Vatican to discuss with officials there relations between Sfeir and the Qornet
Shehwan gathering.
He said the Qornet Shehwan gathering’s members should meet as a “political
force,” and not involve Bkirki, which must remain above local conflicts.
Fares also denied he was carrying out mediation efforts between Bkirki and Baabda, and
said that understanding between the two sides was necessary “irrespective of
circumstances.”
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