Iloubnan - Mikati is procrastinating on STL issue, says Ogassapian, October 13, 2011

MP Jean Ogassapian on Thursday accused Prime Minister Najib Mikati of buying time on the controversial issue of paying Lebanon's cut in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Speaking to "AL Sharq" Radio station, the MP said: "Mikati has inundated the international community with promises to fund the tribunal but until this moment no practical step was taken by the government. All indications show that Mikati is procrastinating and gaining time until the term of the tribunal expires in January 2015,"the MP argued. He stressed that "Hezbollah's cabinet" will not renew the tribunal and if this happens, then Mikati will be part of the scheme to topple the government and with it all the pledges made to fund the STL. "Mikati, MP Michel Aoun and Hezbollah are merely exchanging roles in an attempt to torpedo the STL and try to break Lebanon's ties with it. This will lead to an open confrontation with the international community and take the country to more divisions and conflicts," Ogassapian said. He was surprised by Aoun's position from the tribunal, reminding the latter that he supported the tribunal's funding in the last two cabinets.Ogassapian rejected the notions spread by some factions that March 14 is trying to equate the Israeli violations with the Syrian violations in Lebanon."Israel is an enemy and Lebanon is officially doing its part in this context. But this does not justify the Syrian army actions in Lebanon," the MP said, criticizing the government for turning a blind eye on the Syrian incursions into Lebanon.repeated his accusation that Hizbullah is the only party in the government that has the free political will to preserve or topple the government.The MP also touched on the ongoing debate over the salary increase."The Lebanese arena is witnessing unprecedented chaos over the issue of salary increases amid a wide Cabinet division on this matter. The contradictions within the government are widening due to the different agendas," the MP said.Ogassapian expressed fear that the new salary package endorsed by the Cabinet may lead to higher inflation and alarming rise in the prices of basic commodities in the future.The MP believes that the Cabinet will eventually reconsider the salary increase because it cannot proceed with this measure if the General Labor Confederation and teachers associations are not fully in favor of this step.