Manjian: Cabinet is 100% Pure Lebanese Revenge Not on Agenda

Hussein Assi

State Minister Panos Manjian to Al-Manar Website: Policy Statement Will Be Accomplished within Days; Cabinet is 100% Pure Lebanese; Revenge Not on Agenda; Others Should Give Us Grace Period before Judging; Our Government Will Confront Poverty, Misery and Crises; Social Issues Constitute New Cabinet’s Top Priority State Minister in the new Lebanese government Panos Manojian reiterated that the new cabinet is hundred percent pure Lebanese, referring to what President Michel Sleiman had declared during the cabinet’s first session. “The government would be productive as noted by its head Najib Miqati. It would work for the interest of all Lebanese, without any exception,” he confirmed. In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Minister Manjian expected the policy statement would be done within days, stressing that all issues were basically handled by the relevant committee formed during the cabinet’s first meeting. While denying any intention neither to resort to vexatious practices, nor to break Lebanon’s international commitments, Manjian urged all people to give the cabinet at least a short grace period before judging it. WE’LL WORK FOR ALL LEBANESE WITHOUT EXCEPTION Minister Panos Manjian told Al-Manar Website that the government’s priorities were set during its first session, held on Wednesday at Baabda Palace. “All ministers agreed upon considering the economic and social issues as well as the people’s interests at all levels as our absolute priority,” Manojian said. While Manojian admitted that some ministers might represent a specific political bloc, he said, “yet, we are willing to work for the benefit of all Lebanese without any exception,” noting to his unprecedented experience in politics, after a long service in the military field. NO OBSTACLES IN DRAFTING POLICY STATEMENT Minister Manojian expected that drafting policy statement would be accomplished in a short period of time. “All issues are basically handled as we’re not expecting to face gaps in this regard,” he said. Manjian confirmed that the problems witnessed by Lebanese were huge, at all levels, in particular socially and economically. ALL WE WANT IS GRACE PERIOD Manojian stressed the cabinet was not a government of confrontation. However “it is a government of confrontation in the face of poverty, misery and crises,” he explained. Asked about the fierce campaign launched against the new cabinet, even before holding its first session, Minister Manojian expressed that opposition was something natural and evident. “We have no intention to prevent people from expressing themselves,” he said, calling upon those who want to oppose the cabinet to give it - at least - a short grace period before judging it. The state minister in the new cabinet denied any intention to adopt spiteful and vengeful practices in dealing with the ‘other bloc’. He said the new government has absolutely no such intention. “We will commit to constitution,” he said, adding, “We believe no one is above the law.” Manjian as well, repeatedly denied any intention for Miqati’s government to break Lebanon’s international commitments, as Lebanon is part of the United Nations. “Details could, however, be discussed within the institutions,” he concluded.

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