28 November 2008

BEIRUT: Lebanon's Cabinet convened on Thursday to discuss an array of political and economic issues, including appointments in the judiciary and the civil service, the cellular phone sector, and the establishment of a joint Lebanese-Syrian committee on border patrols.

As The Daily Star went to press, the session was still under way. According to well-informed sources, the appointments and the formation of the Lebanese-Syrian panel were not expected to take up a large part of the discussion.

"However," the sources added, "the issue of Lebanon's cellular network will be subject to much debate."

Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil had met with President Michel Sleiman Thursday morning to discuss the cellular phones issue. 

Last week, the Cabinet approved a proposal by Bassil to end the contract of operator Alfa and have the ministry take the network in charge.

Alfa's services and coverage have suffered in recent months.

The government is planning an international tender for Lebanon's two cellular networks in early 2009.

Also, Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra said he would raise the issue of his powers and authorities during the session at Baabda Palace.

In an interview with As-Safir newspaper published Thursday, he said the issue was becoming "an increasingly pressing one."

The item was not included on the Cabinet meeting's official agenda.  

In other news Thursday, Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri said that the upcoming parliamentary elections would happen on time "no matter what might occur."

Speaking to reporters following a previously unannounced meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, Hariri said: "There is talk that explosions and assassinations might happen to obstruct the elections; however, the elections will be held no matter what happened, and even if I was personally targeted."

"We live in a democratic state, and nothing should hamper holding these elections," the MP added.

The Future leader also denied claims that the March 14 Forces, in which his party is the largest member, did not want to hold the elections in order to preserve its parliamentary majority.

"We already know the results of the elections, because we support justice and we want Lebanon to be independent," Hariri said. He added: "We will not engage in the battle of slogans; what we want is Lebanon's economy and security and that the elections are held on time."

Hariri's meetings in Cairo also included talks with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Major General Omar Suleiman, and lunch with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheith.

Hariri also said that the "intimidation campaign launched by some of Syria's friends in Lebanon will not scare the Lebanese." He warned that part of this was just to scare the people, but part of it could become a reality, "as sometimes they promise us something and they perpetrate it."

Asked whether his party had reached a reconciliation agreement with Hizbullah, Hariri said: "I met with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and we agreed that our disputes should remain political and should not influence the streets ... Political disputes should be resolved in Parliament and the Cabinet."

Asked whether he supported the establishment of Lebanese-Iranian military cooperation, Hariri said: "Iranian military cooperation is currently ... not with the Lebanese state. So instead of sending arms to a certain party, we ask Iran to support the Lebanese Army."

Hariri said that Mubarak reiterated his support for Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. He also said that the Egyptian president was satisfied that the international tribunal to try those accused in former Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination would begin its work in March.

Meanwhile, sources quoted by the Central News Agency (CNA) said Thursday that Sleiman was expected to visit Germany on Tuesday in a two-day official visit, where he would meet with top German officials. Sleiman is also expected to visit Jordan next month to meet with King Abdullah II. Sources added that he was also to visit the UAE.

Sleiman made an official visit to Iran this week to raise Lebanon's economic, financial and military needs.

Sources quoted by the CNA said that Sleiman asked Iranian officials to assist Lebanon in its defense needs, within the national defense strategy that would be adopted during the national dialogue.

Separately, Free Patriotic Movement leader and MP Michel Aoun is expected to visit Syria soon, but FPM officials are still silent on the exact date.

Sources quoted by Al-Akhbar newspaper said that the visit would likely happen in the first week of December and would last for around a week. Aoun is expected to hold several meetings with Syrian top officials, including Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Thursday that he was surprised by the timing of Aoun's visit to Syria.

In remarks to reporters, Geagea said: "I wish that the head of the Free Patriotic Movement had taken into consideration the feelings of many Lebanese, especially the families of those detained in Syrian prisons and the martyrs."

He added: "I am surprised by the timing of this visit, particularly that many issues are still pending between Lebanon and Syria."

The LF leader said that the legitimate visits to Syria now were those made by officials to resolve pending problems and bring back the relations between the two countries to normal.

"The Syrian troops left Lebanon not by a Syrian conscious decision but because of the Lebanese people's and the March 14 Forces' historical revolt," he added.

Commenting on the upcoming parliamentary elections, Geagea said: "We have fears over this matter but we should take the appropriate measures to dissipate them."

He added that the elections must be held on time, "regardless of the developments that might occur."

"Fears emanate from statements that we have been hearing, as some officials in the March 14 Forces expressed their concern over the recurrence of security attacks," he said.

"When the March 8 Forces and their media outlets warn against security developments that might hamper the elections, our concerns are raised, as the March 8 Forces did not witness the experience of assassinations, terrorism or violence over the past year, unlike March 14," he added. - The Daily Star, with additional reporting by Nafez Qawas

© Copyright The Daily Star 2008.

 

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