http://www.wikio.com/search=Michel Suleiman Wikio - Michel Suleiman http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63125501 Beirut- Hopes were high Saturday that Lebanon would have a new cabinet. Tentative agreement has been reached on the distribution of seats between the majority, opposition and President Michel Suleiman. "It is over," Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly told guests who visited him late Friday upon his return to Beirut, interrupting a foreign tour. Progress was reported following contacts Friday by the Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheik Hamad bin Jassem bin Jaber al-Thani with Berri and Premier-designate Fouad Siniora. What was left, though, is a detail and a rather important detail, related to agreeing on the politicians who would assume the portfolios in the new cabinet. Michel Aoun's Change and Reform Bloc would get the portfolios of telecommunications, Energy, agriculture and social affairs in addition to the post of deputy premier. Press reports said Aoun would relay his final response to Siniora later in the day Saturday during a lunch banquet hosted for the premier-designate. If accepted, the proposal relayed by Siniora to an Aoun aide Friday, could put a final end to differences between the March 14 majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition on the distribution of cabinet seats. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea reportedly expressed to President Suleiman Friday that his party is interested in the justice portfolio, among other seats in the cabinet. It remains to be seen if Geagea's party that was oppressed through judicial means in the early 1990s would be given the privilege of guiding justice in a nation waiting for the international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes. Prediction had it that the new cabinet would be formed in the weekend, latest on Monday, to face the tough, and rather thorny, mission of working out a policy statement. Geagea had asked Suleiman to host national dialogue at the Republican Palace of Baabda so that the various factions could agree on common grounds to facilitate agreement on the policy statement. That remains to be seen Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:32:11 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63125501 2008-07-05T16:32:11Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63115886 Beirut - Progress has been achieved in negotiations on a national unity cabinet in Lebanon but it will not be formed over the weekend, Prime Minister-designate Fouad Seniora said Saturday. There will be no cabinet on Saturday, but progress I can say... Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:10:02 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63115886 2008-07-05T14:10:02Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63102001 Lebanese leaders are close to a deal on the formation of a national unity government as stipulated in an agreement that ended the country's political crisis, press reports and political sources said on Saturday. Sources said the new government, in which Hezbollah and its allies would have a Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63102001 2008-07-04T21:00:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63046562 Beirut- Lebanon could witness the birth of a new government within 24 hours, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Friday. Speaking after a meeting with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace, east of Beirut, he said the atmosphere was pos... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:34:01 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=63046562 2008-07-04T17:34:01Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62979123 Beirut - France, in contrast to the US, does not foresee an imminent breakthrough in resolving the issue of claims to the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon, according to reports Friday. The Lebanese daily As Safir quoted French source... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:06:02 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62979123 2008-07-04T07:06:02Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62940608 Beirut- "Lebanon is an Arab and international model of coexistence and moderation," President Michel Suleiman said on Wednesday. Suleiman has continued his efforts to speed up the formation of a national unity government, and has begun preparations for welcoming the Lebanese prisoners who will be returning from Israel, as soon as the exchange agreement between Hezbollah and Israel is implemented. He assured Hezbollah aides yesterday that he wants to participate in welcoming the Lebanese prisoners. PM Siniora, MP saad Hariri and MP walid Jumblatt all expressed a strong desire to welcome the freed Lebanese prisoners. Siniora wants the day they return to be celebrated as a national holiday The president met with Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis on Thursday, who renewed his support for the president and expressed his desire for a successful and promising era. Suleiman also met Minister Jean Ogassapian, who said the recent "atmosphere of openness and communication" among Lebanese leaders at the presidential palace was more appropriate for the formation of a government. US Charge d'Affaires to Lebanon Michele Sison also informed President Suleiman of her upcoming visit to Washington, where she will testify before the US Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs with regards to her appointment by president Bush as the Ambassador to Lebanon. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:08:42 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62940608 2008-07-03T21:08:42Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62881953 Beirut - Progressive Socialist party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said he will take part in the welcoming ceremony for Lebanese prisoner Samir Quntar and other detainees to be freed soon as part of a swap deal between Hezbollah and Israel. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:05:11 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62881953 2008-07-03T13:05:11Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62638364 Beirut - Lebanon's Head of the Administration and Justice Parliamentary Committee Robert Ghanem said there was a "resolution" to block the formation of a national unity cabinet, which also obstructed the beginning of the President Michel Suleiman's mandate. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:07:51 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62638364 2008-07-01T18:07:51Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62347276 President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan asserted that the security and stability the UAE is blessed with, are not only the outcome of security measures and precautions the country has adopted, but also are the result of its keenness to provid Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:20:29 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62347276 2008-06-29T08:20:29Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62431705 Lebanese President Suleiman said Saturday he was hopeful that a new cabinet will be formed within 48 hours, local LBC TV reported. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:26:42 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62431705 2008-06-28T20:26:42Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62316769 Beirut- Lebanon President Michel Suleiman said Saturday he was hopeful that a new cabinet will be announced within 48 hours. "There is no excuse for not forming a national unity government, Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:20:27 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62316769 2008-06-28T19:20:27Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62316284 Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said Saturday in Beirut he would like to see a new government formed soon.Suleiman made the announcement during a meeting with several Lebanese consular corps members, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported.He said he now feels the need for a national unity government. The world's countries are looking forward to see the time when we can rectify our constitutional status and produce constitutional institutions so that they can work with us, Suleiman said.The Doha Agreement, reached June 21 in Qatar, says a 30-member Cabinet should be set up on the basis of 16 ministers for majority, 11 for opposition and three to be handpicked by the president. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:06:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62316284 2008-06-28T19:06:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62276970 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:03:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62276970 2008-06-28T09:03:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62099887 Beirt- Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman told a Hezbollah delegation Thursday Israel is the "main beneficiary" from threats targeting Lebanon and called for persisting dialogue among the various Lebanese factions. Suleiman also said political differences should not have "repercussions that reflect negatively on national principles, topped by the national resistance." Suleiman, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue between Lebanese leaders to curb deterioration of the security situation and help the army and security forces in preventing attacks targeting the people. Suleiman made the remark to a Hezbollah delegation headed by MP Mohammed Raad ( Pictured L) . Raad said the delegation expressed to Suleiman "our concern regarding delay in forming the new cabinet." He also called for speedy solutions to economic hardships facing the Lebanese people. Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman with a Hezbollah delegation headed by MP Mohammed Raad Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:32:17 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=62099887 2008-06-26T21:32:17Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61949290 Beirut - The pro-Syrian Shiite movement Hezbollah Wednesday blamed Prime Minister-designate Fouad Seniora for non-justified delay in efforts to form the new cabinet. The party's stand was outlined in a statement by its parliamentary bloc after a me... Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:24:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61949290 2008-06-25T19:24:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61896129 Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who has been tasked with forming a new unity government in Lebanon, wants the newly elected President Michel Suleiman to hold two key portfolios in the future government. "National interests require that the president gets the security-related interior and defense ministries," Siniora said after meeting with Suleiman on Tuesday. He said the opposition would be able to choose one the remaining key portfolios – finance or foreign affairs. The... Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:08:57 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61896129 2008-06-25T02:08:57Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61829350 BEIRUT, Lebanon — The Lebanese president warned Tuesday that the country's divisions have pushed it to the verge of self-destruction _ sounding an alarm to the rival factions amid renewed sectarian fighting. Michel Suleiman spoke at a meeting of Lebanon's top 15 Christian and Muslim religious leaders, who convened at the presidential palace after two days of sectarian clashes in the northern city of Tripoli left eight people dead and 40 wounded. Suleiman said the country's political and religious leaders must find a starting point to solve the crisis and heal the wounds. It was not immediately clear whether the Tripoli clashes _ which erupted Sunday but subsided the following day _ were an isolated event or would spark further fighting. Lebanese troops were deployed there Monday. The same area witnessed heavy fighting last month, when pro-government gunmen and militias loyal to the Shiite Hezbollah-led opposition clashed in the Lebanese mountains after Hezbollah militants overran streets in Beirut. The violence in May killed 81 and wounded more than 200 people, and was Lebanon's worst since the 1975-90 conflict. Lebanon has 17 different religious sects and at least a dozen armed groups that exert some degree of military control over various parts of the country and the capital. At Tuesday's meeting, Suleiman, who was elected president as part of a peace deal signed in Doha, Qatar, that ended the May fighting, told the religious leaders that "healing their wounds and repairing broken bridges between" Lebanese communities should be their goal. "Differences among the Lebanese have reached the edge of suicide," said Suleiman. The religious leaders also stressed the need for national unity, denouncing extremism and violence in a statement after the meeting and calling on rival factions to refrain from using weapons or violence to achieve political gains. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:38:30 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61829350 2008-06-24T22:38:30Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61893759 Leaders of Lebanon's religious groups met on Tuesday at the presidential palace to try to boost national reconciliation after dozens died in sectarian fighting last month and fresh clashes this week. "I hope this summit will lay down the basis of a national dialogue aimed at consolidating Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61893759 2008-06-24T21:00:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61808088 The Lebanese president warned Tuesday that the country's divisions have pushed it to the verge of self-destruction - sounding an alarm to the rival factions amid renewed sectarian fighting. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:02:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61808088 2008-06-24T19:02:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61765046 Baabda - Lebanon's spiritual leaders met at the Baabda Republican palace today and issued a statement at the end of the summit calling for unity amongst all of all the Lebanese Lebanese president Michel Suleiman also delivered a speech at the end of the summit calling the gathering a launch pad for healing the wounds and dialogue Here are some pictures of teh summit courtesy of Dalati and Nohra , the government photographers A general view of the hall in which the spiritual leaders met with the president A partial view of the hall in which the spiritual leaders met with the president The president and the First Lady with Christian Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir (C),Shi'ite Muslim Mufti Abdel Amir Kabalan (3rd L), Lebanon's Druze Sheikh el Akl Naim Hassan ( 2nd L) Lebanon's Sunni Muslim Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Kabbani ( L) during a religious meeting between Muslims Christians and Druze at the Presidential palace in Baabda June 24, 2008. A general view of the attendees with the top political leaders having lunch at the palace Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:40:11 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Michel+Suleiman?rinfoid=61765046 2008-06-24T13:40:11Z