Minister of Information in the caretaker government, Ziad Mikati, stated that "the decision not to participate in the Bkerke meeting is due to the fact that the document we received indicates a direction that does not resemble what we see as beneficial for the country. No one should say that we are against the implementation of international resolutions or that we are not in favor of resolving the arms issue; we have always said that the resolution of the arms issue falls within the defensive strategy. However, the direction taken is aimed at creating problems rather than finding solutions, which is why we chose not to participate in this matter."
Mikati mentioned in a television intervention that "the Free Patriotic Movement, which spent six years in power, is demanding things in which it has failed, while blaming Christians for this failure. It should have worked to resolve all those issues while it was in power." He added: "If it is experiencing a public crisis, the way to address it should not be in this manner, but rather through dialogue, similar to the struggles of the Free Patriotic Movement."
In response to a question about whether participation in the Bkerke meeting would have presented an opportunity for Franjieh to align with the Christian consensus, Mikati asserted, "Unfortunately, there is no Christian consensus. If you mean in your question the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement, they criticize each other daily. If you are referring to Bkerke, we are under Bkerke's umbrella." He concluded by confirming that "the Marada Movement will visit Bkerke very soon to reaffirm the commitment to work under its Christian umbrella."
