Al-Rahi breaks government crisis deadlock by meeting with Aoun and Basil

The Maronite patriarch Bechara Al-Rai broke the deadlock in the Lebanese government’s formation file yesterday by meeting yesterday with him, President Michel Aoun, and the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, parliamentarian Gebran Bassil, the day after his meeting with the president in charge of forming the government, Saad Hariri, in the midst of the activation of the contacts that did not stop. To activate it, sources said following the government file, pointing out that “there is no stagnation on the government issue.”
Al-Ra’i continued his mediation, which began the day before yesterday, inviting Hariri to Bkerke to discuss the obstacles preventing the formation of the government, visiting him yesterday at the Baabda Palace, where he met with President Aoun in the morning, followed by an afternoon meeting with Bassil in Bkerke.
Sources who follow the government file explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the sponsor was the one who invited Hariri, and Bassil also called Bkerke yesterday, pointing out that the sponsor offered President Aoun his initiative, and the answer came with acceptance, noting that “the messengers of charity entered the line of convergent destinies. Consideration »Among them are the Director General of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim and Deputy Jean Obeid.
Sources accompanying the meeting with President Aoun and the Maronite Patriarch said that the sponsor placed Aoun in the environment of his meeting with Hariri, while Aoun placed the Patriarch in the environment of the formulas that were circulated. The President affirmed that his objective is to form a productive and effective government that is capable of facing current problems at the internal and regional level. The Patriarch wished Aoun to resume communication with Hariri, and “Aoun showed his readiness for this matter,” noting that the Patriarch said to Aoun, “If anything is required of me, I am present.” President Aoun said: “There is no problem with Hariri and we can communicate in any way.” Moment”.
The pastor heard a full explanation from Aoun, “especially about the unity of the standards, and all of the pastor’s confusing points were cleared up in this meeting.” Al-Ra’i noted after his meeting with Aoun that “the basic principle of the constitution is that the president-designate attends its formation and goes to the president of the republic for consultations.” He added: “I have nothing to do with the details. They are the ones who discuss it, and I did not notice that my conversation with the president is sticking to the obstructing third party.” We do not want that, and there is agreement and public opinion to produce a government of non-politicians.
Al-Ra’i explained that “he does not know all the names proposed in the formation of the government because that is the role of Hariri and Aoun”, considering that “whatever the reasons and circumstances, a solution must be found between the President of the Republic and the President-designate and the production of a government that begins with reforms, in addition to the reconstruction of Beirut ”. The sponsor stressed “respect for the existing authorities and not harm the dignity of any person, so what if he was president of the republic.”
Hours after his meeting with Aoun, Al-Rahi received the head of the “Strong Lebanon Bloc” (which includes representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement), parliamentarian Gebran Bassil, who indicated that “he agrees that the government will be able to achieve reforms and have the same standards in the composition “.
Sources close to the Free Patriotic Movement confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the invitation came from Patriarch Al-Rahi, and Representative Gebran Bassil, who responded to the invitation, noting that “the meeting began with a meeting that lasted ten minutes in the presence of media, then the attendees moved to the lunch table, where El pastor and Bassil, Basil’s advisor, Antoine Constantine, and the pastor’s advisor, Walid Ghayad, joined in, and after lunch a retreat was held that brought the pastor to Basil, and thus the meeting between the two men lasted a period of two hours during which the current files were presented, especially the government file. Sources confirmed that Bassil’s statement came in response to the sponsor’s desire to inform the Lebanese and public opinion of what happened at the meeting.
Regarding the issue of Patriarch Asmaa’s presentation to Bassil, who had been informed by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, sources denied this matter, confirming that “No names were presented to Deputy Bassil during the meeting, but the latter informed the sponsor on the approach of the Free Patriotic Movement on the issue of the formation of a government, and renewed His position is that he did not ask for anything, but during the meeting it was confirmed that the President of the Republic is a full and essential partner in the process of composition, he cares about all the names in all the sects, and the formation process is done by agreement between the two men.
The sources said that the names were not entered, so the President of the Republic did not provide any names for Hariri, but requested that criteria be established for the distribution of ministers. The sources added that the Patriarch knew the details of the formation process and the meetings that took place between Aoun and Hariri, and also learned of the movement’s positions.
In response to a question about the translation of the sponsor’s steps, the sources said: “If the Patriarch has a commitment and completes it, he will put an end to any diligence and evasion in the formation process, respecting the role of the President of the Republic”. Hence, Basilio said: “If the intentions are described and there is a will to form a government In a short time.”
After his meeting with the sponsor, Bassil clarified that there is no requirement or requirement for him “except to deal fairly and write on the basis of the constitution and national consensus”, adding: “When there is an intention to adopt a norm, then the government is formed. “
Bassil indicated that he discussed with the sponsor the issue of the port and the “need for transparency”, since “the Lebanese have the right to know why the explosive materials arrived in Lebanon, who used them, who stole them, who refused to allow them. their maintenance and how they exploded. “
Bkerke’s media official, Walid Ghayad, confirmed to Al-Sharq al-Awsat that Al-Rae’s step “ came to break the deadlock and the wall that is taking place on the question of government formation, and is working from a responsible position to promote the formation of a functioning government and specialists as soon as possible, in accordance with the constitution. ”
Ghayad indicated that al-Rahi met with Hariri, Aoun and Bassil, as they are directly interested in the training, and relied on the data from his meetings with them to move the issue. Ghayad emphasized that the sponsor has not blamed either party.
Ghayad rated the meeting of the sponsor and Bassil as positive and excellent, and the sponsor emphasized that the main title of the meeting with Basil is to address the issue of training according to unified standards with all and to deal in accordance with the constitution without diligence, noting that the sponsor “believes that the government should be a government of work and specialists to advance the country, It is not a government of politics”, and stated that the pastor “practices the principle of separating religion from the state, and Bkerke practices the national role ”.