In a statement issued by his press office after a meeting with Lebanese emigrants at the Baabda presidential palace, Sleiman stressed Lebanon’s “excellent relations” with Arab states, adding that the country proved lately to be a place for dialogue rather than a battleground.

The statement added that despite the delay in forming the government, the Lebanese would eventually agree upon a national-unity cabinet.

Concerning discussions on the cabinet’s formation, the daily pan-Arab Al-Hayat reported on Saturday that deliberations by Sleiman next week would focus on the distribution of portfolios rather than on the government shares.

“The shift in discussions will test the various groups’ ability to from a cabinet in the few upcoming days, without necessarily meaning discussions would not extend to next month,” the report said.

Regarding Hariri’s proposals, Al-Hayat reported that the premier-designate would “test the opposition’s commitment not to insist on veto power in the next government.”

Al-Hayat, quoting well-informed sources, reported that a possible proposal would grant the opposition 10 ministers including 5 Shiites while Sleiman would name a neutral candidate to be approved by Hizbullah, as the sixth Shiite minister.

However, caretaker Transport and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi told The Daily Star on Sunday that President Sleiman refused to be held accountable for a sixth Shiite minister, “whom he does not nominate in the next cabinet.”

“Sleiman rejected that the sixth Shiite minister would be counted as part of his cabinet’s share if he was not to choose him,” Aridi said.

Aridi added that Sleiman would not oppose an agreement between the parliamentary majority and the opposition on the Shiite minister’s name, even if it excluded him, “as long as it leads to an accord on the government’s structure.”

Reiterating his demands for proportional representation, Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun called on Saturday for representing his bloc with six ministers. “The Reform and Change bloc counted 27 MPs, so we should be granted six ministerial seats,” Aoun said.

In an interview with An-Nahar on Saturday, Aoun denied that Hariri presented to him any proposal, adding that the obstacles delaying the government’s formation were “regional rather than domestic.”

Regarding the timing of the cabinet’s formation, Aoun doubted that an accord on its structure would be reached before the end of the month.

When asked about the president’s share, Aoun said that “all parties participated in the [parliamentary] elections therefore they should be represented in the government according to their gains [in the Parliament].”

“I would not relinquish my share to anyone,” Aoun said.

Tackling the distribution of ministerial seats, Aoun expressed his interest in being allotted the Interior Ministry portfolio.

Slamming Aoun’s call for proportional representation, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said on Sunday that demands by “some” for six ministers was unreasonable.

“Real participation [in the next government] is guaranteed by the Constitution and any rejection of the [June 7 parliamentary] election results is a rejection of the [Constitution] and coexistence among the Lebanese,” he added

During a dinner Saturday night in Jbeil, Geagea stressed that any form of partnership “should be based on the Lebanese constitution, and the Taif accord.”

Geagea said Aoun’s demands for six ministers were “illogical,” adding that the former general was satisfied “with five ministers in the cabinet when at the time he was supported by 70 percent of the Christians.”

“How can you ask for six ministers when your Christian support dropped to 50 percent?” Geagea asked.

Commenting on the opposition’s stance, FPM MP Alain Aoun said on Sunday opposition parties demanded “real partnership” and not “fictive participation.”

Aoun added that “real partnership is secured by proportional representation in the next government.”

Meanwhile, Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc head MP Mohammad Raad stressed on Sunday that Hariri should come forward with a “practical” proposal on the cabinet’s make-up in order to put an end to the political deadlock.

During a Hizbullah political rally in south Lebanon, Raad said the opposition was “dealing positively” with Hariri’s efforts to reach an agreement on a national-unity cabinet.

Raad added that attempts to hinder the establishment of a national-unity cabinet “do not serve Lebanon’s best interests.”