Beirut, December 29 (BNA) Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for a national dialogue on foreign policy and improving relations with the Arab Gulf states.
Mikati’s government, which is focused on resuming talks with the International Monetary Fund to unlock much-needed foreign aid, has not met since October 12, due to a row over an investigation into last year’s Beirut port explosion, Reuters reported.
Mikati said that although he takes responsibility for the government’s failure to convene, he will not call a meeting that could lead to the government’s disintegration.
“I’m late calling for a meeting so things don’t get more complicated,” he said.
Iran-aligned Hezbollah and its ally Amal want to remove the judge leading the investigation into the 2020 port bombing and refusing to allow the cabinet to meet until the issue is on the agenda. Mikati said that the issue is outside the powers of the Council of Ministers.