Mikati: Things Not Closed, To Fund STL
Bassil: Electricity Plan Benefit All the Lebanese
Meetings, calls, consultations and exchange of views among the governmental parties proved to the internal and foreign opponents that what was said about the one color government is just a mirage.
Similarly, bets on governmental disputes failed as the government moves towards approving the electricity bill on its Wednesday meeting.
Electricity the Hot Concern
Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Mohammed Fneish, Ghazi Aridi, Wael Abou Faour, Mohammed Safadi and Nicolas Nahhas attended a Monday meeting headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail.
The meeting came out with an agreement to fund the first stage of the project from the state treasury to generate 600 Megawatts of electricity at the cost of $600 million in 2011-2012 and later search for funding from Arab funds and the private sector for the implementation of the remaining phases.
"An-Nahar" Lebanese newspaper quoted ministerial sources that informed "Several ministers have tasked Hizbullah and Amal movement with informing Energy Minister Jibran Bassil about the decisions they reached on the electricity crisis."
"Amal Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and a Hizbullah representative will make the proposal to Bassil," the paper clarified.
The sources stated that the suggestions are considered "a roadmap that combines the viewpoints of the ministers representing Amal, Hizbullah and Walid Jumblat."
"It is now up to Bassil and his political team the Free Patriotic Movement to approve the proposals," they added.
Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi, told "as-Safir" that "the government doesn't have the capacity for the time being to fund $1.2 billion to generate 700 Megawatts of electricity. But he confirmed that the ministry is ready to provide $600 million within six months."
Mikati, who held talks with "National Struggle Front" leader Walid MP Jumblatt earlier in the day, said the government "strives to reach an electricity plan under the best technical conditions so that we can achieve positive solutions."
The ministers also agreed to amend law that regulates the electricity sector, establish the electricity regulatory authority within 3 months and allow the tenders department to oversee the subcontracting process.
Hours before the expected deal on the electricity bill, PM Mikati told "as-Safir" daily that "things are not closed; on the contrary I can say that we have reached some kind of solution, and with God's willing we can reach positive outcomes soon."
Mikati briefed President Michel Suleiman about the meetings that took place earlier Monday as a preparation for the government's meeting.
For his part, Minister Ghazi al-Aridi clarified to "as-Safir" that "we could say that we made good progress with the hopes of reaching a serious understanding through cooperation and good will from all sides."
Meanwhile, MP Jumblatt reiterated on Tuesday that his party's remarks on the electricity project were only technical and administrative and had no political motive
"We hope that a final solution to the power crisis would be reached soon," Jumblatt pointed to "as-Safir".
The Electricity concerned minister Bassil stressed in a press conference that "electricity plan would benefit all Lebanese and stressed that the issue cannot be subject to a compromise."
Emphasizing that "the government's failure is our failure and we want it to succeed," the minister added that: "on the political level, everyone is a winner and legally and financially there are no problems."
During the press conference he held at the ministry to discuss the plan, Bassil "the project needs to be implemented immediately and we hope it will be passed during Wednesday's governmental session."
Sources told "al-Akhbar" daily that according to another trend that still has to be confirmed, "Council of Ministers' session set to be held tomorrow may be postponed if no agreement is reached on the adoption of the electricity plan."
On another level, following a meeting with Lebanese Army Force Commander General Jean Kahwaji, Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani asserted that the army and its command "are esteemed by all the Lebanese and represent a guarantee to Lebanon's security."
Mingarelli: EU Supports Government
For his part, French diplomat Hughes Mingarelli, managing director of the EU's Middle East and Southern Neighborhood Department, told "as-Safir" that he conveyed to Mikati a "European message of support for his government."
Mingarelli said: "We told Mikati that the European Union wishes upon Lebanon to respect its international commitments and to have the Lebanese authorities abide by funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Mikati explained to us that Lebanon has every intention to do so."
Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri called the opposition to join the national dialogue proposed by President Michel Suleiman.
In an interview with "as-Safir" daily, Berri said that "If they are concerned about the truth and the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), they should participate again in the national dialogue; maybe we could then reach a mutual vision on how to deal with the STL."
"For those who consider that the national dialogue has nothing to do with the tribunal, I need to remind them that the STL was approved in the national dialogue by all political parties... before it became a debated matter," the House Speaker stressed.
Commenting on the STL funding Berri said that "it is too early since we still have more than one month until [the deadline on the issue."
"We have other urgent files that need to be addressed such as the electricity file, which is of an interest to every Lebanese citizen and the oil file," Berri added.
Clarifying that Lebanon's problem is that "the governing majority does not know how to rule and the opposition does not know how to oppose," he emphasized that "the government gives the impression that it includes opposition and governing parties together."
Source: Lebanese Newspapers
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