Layyoun about Mikati's personal stance

Minister of Culture, Gaby Layyoun, regarded Prime Minister Najib Mikati's willingness to pay STL dues out of his own pocket a personal stance rather than a collective cabinet position. Interviewed on voice of Lebanon radio station, Layyoun stressed adamant rejection of the Aounist Trend not to subsidize the Court. He based the rejection on the argument that the Tribunal was perfectly illegitimate. He criticized the Lebanese position at the UN Security Council saying Lebanon should have had vetoed the International Resolution against Syria rather than abstaining to vote. With respect to appointments to key-administrative positions, the Minister said these were the prerogatives of all three presidents: Sleiman, Berri and Mikati. He favored an electoral law based on the principal of proportionality.