Title: Response from Baabda Following Mikati's Statement

The following statement was issued by the Media Office at the Presidency: "In reference to the statement issued by the media office of the Prime Minister regarding the remarks made by the President of the Maronite League, Ambassador Khalil Karam, at Baabda Palace, we express our 'astonishment' at the Prime Minister's comment. We ask him which part of the statement he found worthy of 'astonishment,' hoping to join him in his rejection. As for the claim about using the presidency's platform 'which should be above sectarian considerations,' it is 'astonishing' since the presidency has never belonged to any one Lebanese faction over another. Perhaps the positions taken by the President regarding the formation of the government reflect this approach, which calls for achieving national partnership and maintaining the national pact."