Lebanon PM calls for national dialogue on foreign policy

Reuters | Beirut

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for a national dialogue on foreign policy and for improving ties with Arabian Gulf countries.

Mikati's government, which is focused on restarting talks with the International Monetary Fund to unlock much-needed foreign aid, has not met since Oct. 12, due to a dispute over a probe into last year's deadly Beirut port blast, Reuters reports.

Mikati said that although he bears responsibility for the government's failure to convene, he will not call for a meeting that could lead the government to unravel.

"I've held back on calling for a meeting so matters won't become more complicated," he said.

Iran-allied Hezbollah and its ally Amal want the judge leading the probe into the 2020 port explosion removed and have refused to allow the cabinet to meet until the issue is on the agenda. Mikati has said the issue falls outside the cabinet's powers.