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Davutoğlu seeks to help resolve Lebanon’s government crisis
“Coalition negotiations following the elections have taken a little bit too long,” Davutoğlu told reporters before departing for Lebanon earlier in the day. “We believe that Turkey, which has close contact with all political groups in Lebanon, could make a positive contribution in this critical period.”
Hariri's March 14 alliance has been in talks with a rival coalition including the powerful Iran and Syria-backed Hezbollah and its allies to form a coalition government since elections in June. The main sticking point had been the opposition's demand for 11 ministers in the cabinet, giving them the power of veto.
Hariri's task has been further complicated by influences of rival states that back the opposing sides. A thaw in ties between Syria and Saudi Arabia is seen as instrumental in the successful creation of a new government.
A smooth cabinet formation is vital to instilling confidence in Lebanon, one of the world's most heavily indebted states.
Davutoğlu said Turkey valued Lebanon's political stability highly and added that efforts led by Hariri to form the government have recently been on a “positive path.”
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who also had talks with Davutoğlu on Thursday, said on Wednesday that Lebanese politicians have agreed on the shape of the new coalition government and will complete the allocation of ministerial portfolios within days.
 Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri (R) shakes hands with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Beirut on Thursday. |
Berri said only "technical issues" remained, such as distributing ministerial portfolios and assigning ministers to them, a process which should be completed in the next few days. "The political process that is related to forming the government ... it can be confirmed that it has been completed," Berri told reporters after meeting with President Michel Suleiman.
Hariri later held talks with Suleiman for more than an hour on Wednesday, and told reporters: "The formula for the government is almost complete. ... We will work seriously, calmly and maybe a little faster to come out with a government. ..."
A senior politician told Reuters on Tuesday there was agreement on dividing seats in a new 30-minister government in a way that would give neither Hariri's alliance an absolute majority nor Hezbollah and its allies the power of veto.
President Suleiman would be given a decisive say by being allowed to nominate five ministers, including one Shiite to be approved by Hezbollah and its ally the Shiite Amal movement.
Hariri, who met Berri on Tuesday night, has said very little publicly about his talks.
A senior political source said the two agreed on the formula for dividing the seats in which Hariri's coalition would get 15 seats, Hezbollah and its allies 10 seats and five to Suleiman -- the interior and defense posts and three state ministers.
Hariri's March 14 coalition, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, defeated Hezbollah and its allies in a June 7 parliamentary election, winning 71 of 128 seats.
Berri said on Wednesday agreement was reached on the "guaranteeing role" of the presidency, the main direction and policies the government will undertake and its position on "national and resistance" issues, referring to the controversial issue of Hezbollah's weapons.
Lebanon has enjoyed relative calm this year following four years of turmoil unleashed by the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik al-Hariri, Saad's father. A Doha-mediated deal halted Lebanon's brush with armed conflict last year when rival groups fought in a power struggle.
Davutoğlu will meet with President Suleiman before wrapping up his visit today. The government has been working actively for stability in Lebanon as part of its ambitions to resolve conflicts in the troubled Middle East. Turkey also mediated peace talks between Syria and Israel, but the talks collapsed in January after Israel launched a deadly offensive in Gaza.
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