Cabinet Meets as Miqati Stresses Need to Preserve Security, Slams Abductions
The cabinet convened on Wednesday at the Grand Serail with 48 items on its agenda as Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed the need to improve the security situation in the country.
Miqati tackled the political and security situations in Lebanon and “stressed his support for the security forces’ efforts to bring the security situation under control across Lebanon,” state-run National News Agency reported.
He noted that the government “was the first side to officially tackle the issue of the Lebanese who went missing during the war with the Syrian officials,” adding that a national commission for the forcibly disappeared persons will be formed soon.
Miqati also addressed the issue of the recent kidnappings and counter-kidnappings, condemning all such acts and stressing the importance of “measures on the ground to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”
The premier also tackled the issue of Lebanon’s chairmanship of Arab foreign ministers meetings, saying it will be an occasion to “underline Lebanon’s positive role.” Lebanon will assume the rotating presidency of the Arab League Ministerial Council for a six-month period starting September 5.
Miqati described the upcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon as a “visit of hope,” adding that he has given the instructions to finalize the preparations for the trip according to the announced program.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi announced that “the public sector will receive a wage hike in late September that will be retroactive to February 1, 2012, as one payment and without installments.”
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reassured that “good news” will surface soon concerning the issue of the Lebanese abductees in Syria, noting that he is following up on the case.
Radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) said Charbel told reporters as he entered the cabinet session that he might travel to Turkey to follow up on the issue of the abductees and resolve the case.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/51687 |