Round UP: From New York Lebanon Stresses Right to Liberate Occupied Land, Electricity’s Final Journey
September's first rain is announced by a drop and the Lebanese cloud in the UN Security Council began Wednesday its first dew drops: Heading the World's Top Chair, Lebanon reiterated its right to liberate occupied land through all legitimate and possible means.
As the Lebanese concern is divided between the local and the international, executive authority finalized transferring necessary files and belongings in a short trip to New York while the internal electricity's journey reaches its final stop Thursday at the Parliament.
Suleiman in UN
In New York, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman announced that Lebanon is striving to preserve moderation, despite the challenges.
"According to its constitution, Lebanon is a democratic, parliamentary republic built upon freedom of expression and belief and its people is the source of authority. It has committed itself to these principles and to the participation of all sects in public affairs, despite the wars and it is committed to UN resolutions, including those related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," Suleiman stressed.
Addressing the 66th meeting of the UN General Assembly, Suleiman emphasized that "we strongly uphold our full sovereignty and economic rights over our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone as well as freedom of the exploitation of our natural resources, be they on land or in the deep sea, independently from any designs or threats."
Suleiman also threw Lebanon's backing behind the Palestinian drive for full UN membership as a state.
"It is important to underscore the rightful Palestinian efforts aiming at earning the recognition of the state of Palestine and its full membership to the United Nations," he told the UN General Assembly.
"Lebanon will back these efforts in order for the latter to succeed with the coordination and cooperation of brotherly and friendly countries," Suleiman added.
Electricity's Final Steps
At the internal scene, Electricity Law is to be adopted in the Parliament today announcing the beginning of the Lebanese citizen dream turning into facts.
With his acknowledged skills and well known political cunning, House Speaker Nabih Berri failed all "March 14" attempts to disrupt the electricity bill by transferring it into the Parliament's General Assembly.
Parliament will vote Thursday on a draft law to boost electricity production in the country after a consensus reached by the majority and minority the day before to pass the law.
Joint committees agreed that the ministerial proposal will become as a draft law to be subject to vote by Parliament.
House Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that he will not back down on the consensus reached over the electricity bill suggested during Wednesday's joint parliamentary committees meeting.
"The electricity plan will be subjected to vote during today's (Thursday's) parliamentary session," Berri said.
In an interview with "as-Safir" daily, Berri hoped that the parliament approves the draft law that's in the benefit of all."
Clarifying that "the legislative authority has the right to introduce amendments for any proposal adopted by the government," Berri explained that "this is not a violation."
The Speaker noted that the consensus reached was the fruit of the discussions that took place during the joint parliamentary committees meeting.
"Everyone wants to resolve the electricity problem... I suggested adopting the draft law agreed on by the government to form a common ground between "March 8" and "March 14"," Berri said.
"Berri used his influence in the third session of joint parliamentary commissions, along with PM Najib Mikati's support, to have the electricity plan passed based on a settlement that satisfied everyone," "al-Akhbar" daily commented.
High-ranking sources in the "Change and Reform Bloc" told "as-Safir" that the referral of the ministerial decision to the parliamentary session as a draft law is a violation of the separation of powers.
However, parliamentary sources stressed that Berri's proposal was aimed at appeasing both Aoun's camp and opposition which had been insisting on introducing to the draft law.
Sources informed "al-Akhbar" that the agreement met some of the opposition's demands and at the same time didn't allow Aoun and his team to make major compromises.
For its part "as-Safir" sources explained that the issue is unlikely to become a crisis, as they predicted that "Change and reform Bloc" MPs will vote "in principle for the draft."
Source: Lebanese newspapers
