At a press conference today in Doha, Qatari Foreign Minister Ahmed Mahmoud declared that there are currently two proposals on the table to resolve Lebanon’s political deadlock.
“The Arab Ministerial Committee suggested two proposals for a solution that they consider the best way out of the crisis,” he stated. “One of the two parties requested additional time to study the proposals.” In response, the committee extended its deadline for reaching a solution until Wednesday, when another press conference will be held to announce the results of mediation efforts.
While Lebanon’s feuding factions have agreed on Army Commander General Michel Sleiman as a consensus candidate for president, debate has flared over the election law that will be used during Lebanon’s next parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2009. The argument has centered over how to divide Beirut’s electoral districts, with Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun and MP Michel al-Murr offering competing plans. According to reports, Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri rejected Aoun’s plan out of hand but appeared ready to “build on” Murr’s proposal, which divides Beirut into three districts.
Murr noted that his plan already received the approval of Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah during their Monday meeting. “They commissioned me to discuss my suggestion with Future leader MP Saad Hariri,” Murr told the Lebanese daily Al-Liwaa, adding that they will go over Hariri’s thoughts on the division of the three electoral constituencies in Beirut.
According to Al-Liwaa, Murr’s suggestion included Zaqaq Blat, Minet al-Hosn, Ras al-Nabaa, Corniche al-Mazraa and Ain al-Mreisseh in the first constituency, which would be represented by nine MPs, among them, five Sunnis, one Shia, one Orthodox, one minority representative and one Druze. This constituency would represent 250,000 voters.
The second constituency would include Al-Bachoura, Saifi and Al-Medawwar and would be represented by five MPs, among them, three Armenians, one Shia, one Sunni and one minority representative. This constituency would represent 100,000 voters.
The third constituency, to include Rmeil and Achrafieh, would have four MPs; one Orthodox, one Maronite, one Armenian and one Catholic representing 80,000 voters.
Still, the two factions appeared hopelessly far apart on country’s most divisive issues for most of the day. An Arab diplomatic source told NOW Lebanon that the Arab diplomatic parties, particularly Qatar, are unhappy with the course of events in Doha. The source confirmed that, if a breakthrough was not made, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa would hold a press conference to name the party responsible for obstructing mediation efforts.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea proposed the presence of an Arab peacekeeping force in Lebanon should the dialogue in Doha collapse. Geagea stressed that, given the occupation of West Beirut and the invasion of the Chouf by Hezbollah-led gunmen last week, it is important to ensure Lebanon’s security above all other considerations.
“My proposal is an Arab peacekeeping force, and I have discussed it with all the mediators and with the Arab ministerial committee,” he said. “There is a tense calm in Lebanon today, and if we want real stability then this is a real solution.”
Pro-government leaders have pressed for a discussion of Hezbollah’s arms during the Doha dialogue. This, however, has been refused by Hezbollah and its allies.
-NOW Staff