Lebanon's premier-designate Saad Hariri said Thursday after his meeting with President Michel Suleiman the distribution of cabinet portfolios and ministerial nominations needed "clam dialogue". According to him, so far he avoided delivering statements in order not to further complicate matters.

"I have adopted two approaches since the start of the government formation process," Hariri said, according to Naharnet. "The first is not to allow the ongoing disputes to impact the economy and tourism; and the second is to avoid making statements in order not to be dragged to situations from which there is no turning back," he noted.

Hariri termed as "natural" current disputes over the portfolios. "The distribution of portfolios and ministerial nominations require calm dialogue, which is the way that will help eliminate obstacles," he said.

"We want a homogeneous government, even among the ministers themselves," he said, adding that it was "the right of each team to request the portfolios it wants." "We are keen on forming a government. The process is advancing, although not at the pace that we want, but we will have a government eventually," Hariri conveyed. 

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