Account Draft Bill to Be Present, No Syrian Infiltration in al-Qaa
Is it the calm that precedes the storm or the storm ahead of the settlement?
Few hours, and the battle field dust is to uncover the type of Lebanese next summer: either a settlement to the electricity crisis, thus, a cool summer, or a windy governmental session paving the way to the summer of hells and darkness.
However, according to the Lebanese heritage of politics, it seems that the last minute compromises are to govern Wednesday's ministerial meeting.
No Winners, Losers Settlement
In this context, "an-Nahar" Lebanese newspaper reported Tuesday that "Energy Minister Gibran Bassil met Tuesday night with Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and the political aide of the Secretary General of Hizbullah Hussein Khalil in an attempt to decrease tension."
According to the daily, "seeds of the settlement emerged through proposing a limited period of generating ships and the construction of one or two electricity plants."
"It was understood that the electricity generating ship's item is to be the last on the governmental agenda. It might not be addressed in Wednesday's session,""an-Nahar" added.
"We are working on drafting a solution that would find consensus by all parties, by taking a decision at the government that approves the leasing of the power-generating ships and building new power plants," Mikati's sources told the daily.
The PM hailed Bassil's stance, which he announced during a press conference on Tuesday, saying that "he will be open towards any positive solution."
During his press conference, Bassil said that "a solution, which we think is logical and fair, lies in leasing the vessels and constructing new power plants."
Mikati said in comments published in "as-Safir" newspaper that he "is firm on two principles: the first would be providing Lebanon with power 24 hours a day and preserving the state's treasury."
Asked if the government will vote on the two projects during its session, Mikati viewed that "the technical aspects shouldn't be submitted to vote, but we should refer to logic... Anyway the president is the one who has the right to decide the appropriate solution."
Suleiman, Berri Stress Agreement
For his part, President Michel Suleiman announced in an interview with "as-Safir" that he is trying to find a solution to the dispute between Bassil and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
"Nothing suits us but agreement," Suleiman stressed.
He further highlighted that "the outcome must be based on a two principles: to keep the rights of the state in terms of preventing waste and reducing spending and to provide electricity for citizens, which is their right."
Similarly, House Speaker Nabih Berri announced that his [Amal Movement] ministers will take the appropriate stand that will serve the Lebanese people regarding the various pending issues in Lebanon."
In remarks to "as-Safir", Berri confirmed that he "will not intervene in the dispute, but I will wait a week or two before I make my stand."
"The given time is to monitor the government's performance, and its response to the cry I had launched as an objection to the governmental approach in handling the open files," the House Speaker emphasized.
The paper learned that Berri had informed his Tuesday visitors that he "will distance himself from the ongoing dispute,
"I have no personal problem with PM Mikati. Our lack of contact is not a cause for speculation," he stressed uncovering that he "didn't contact Mikati since a while."
Safadi Delivers Report, Fneish Slams Dispute
In parallel, Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi proposed to the council of ministers his report on the electricity file in addition to the PM's report.
"As-Safir" obtained a copy of the report that stated that the "electricity ministerial committee was limited to only hiring ships and not preparing an energy strategy."
Safadi supported renting ships under the condition that "that the lease term is limited to three years i.e. until the establishment of production plants with 700 MW capacity."
The minister noted that "leasing the vessels will not increase the financial burden on the state budget as the power cuts due to the rehabilitation of the Zouk and al-Zahrani power plants would increase to 13-15 hours per day."
Meanwhile, Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish slammed the dispute between Mikati and Bassil.
"We should be seeking to provide Lebanon with electricity... It's a shame that the matter turned personal," Fneish told "an-Nahar".
He further said that "Hizbullah didn't decide yet on a stance as it is waiting to see the progress of the contacts."
Financial Account Draft Bill
On another level, the government's crowded agenda is scheduled to discuss financial accounts' draft bill prepared by the Finance Ministry.
In this context, the Chairman of the "Finance and Budget Committee" MP Ibrahim declared that "despite the fact that the project respects in its form the formula that was agreed upon, it suggests in terms of content that the goal is to legislate extra spending."
In remarks to "as-Safir, Kenaan expressed surprise on how the "data was presented without checking imports and expenses as well as without any mention of donations or grants."
No Syrian Infiltration
On the security level, President Suleiman denied Tuesday's media claims that the Syrian army had infiltrated the Lebanese territories.
In this context, "an-Nahar" reported that the Lebanese army intercepted two vehicles carrying arms in the Bekaa border town of al-Qaa and detained four Lebanese and six Syrian nationals.
"The army discovered a van and a pickup truck that were carrying arms and confiscated a number of machine guns, grenades, and a grad rocket," the paper clarified.
In parallel, "al-Joumhouria" newspaper clarified that "the four Lebanese from Arsal town were identified as: Ibrahim Rayed, Abdul Karim Rayed, Hassan Ezzedine, and Ibrahim Ezzedine."
"The detainees were referred to the Ablah military base," it informed.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
