A Russian team is visiting Lebanon in an attempt to sign contracts with Lebanese authorities to have oil exploration rights in Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone, media reports said Saturday.

As Safir daily reported that the delegation was carrying a message from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to his Lebanese counterpart.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held a closed-door meeting on Wednesday with Speaker Nabih Berri to assess the parliament session that was held earlier.

He said: “We will be held accountable for every action we commit and the new cabinet has not been criticized for any procedure it has taken since it received the vote of confidence.”

Premier Najib Miqati’s cabinet appointed Ghassan Baidoun as director of the investment authority at the energy ministry based upon the recommendation of Minister Jebran Bassil.

An Nahar daily said Wednesday that Bassil recommended appointing Baidoun, who is not a civil servant, although both Hizbullah and Amal movement had other candidates.

The cabinet is expected to approve on Tuesday a draft-law on the delineation of Lebanon’s maritime borders which would be referred to parliament for the final green light the next day.

The parliamentary Public Works, Transport, Energy and Water Committee approved the 18-article draft law proposed by the committee’s chairman MP Mohammed Qabbani.

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that the parliament’s full agenda makes it imperative to hold a weekly session until it finishes studying the draft laws, As Safir newspaper reported.

“The parliament will hold a meeting every Wednesday,” he stressed.

Lebanon celebrated Army Day on Monday as President Michel Suleiman stressed on the importance of national dialogue and the adoption of an electoral law based on proportional representation.

The Army Day celebration took place at the Shukri Ghanem barracks in Fayyadiyeh and was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and other high ranking officials led by Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s circles voiced their satisfaction with international positions on the new government.

The premier had held talks on Saturday with Speaker Nabih Berri, in his first activity since returning to Lebanon from vacation.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati said on Saturday that the cabinet will meet all the needs of the army according to the plan that its “wise” leadership established, the National News Agency reported.

“The government will protect the army along with all the security institutions from any interference,” Miqati said in the Order of the Day issued on the 66th anniversary of Army Day on August 1.

Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday hit back at Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, without naming him, over remarks made by the latter earlier in the day on the issue of Lebanon’s maritime resources.

“Who allowed him (Geagea) to renounce our rights and jeopardize Lebanon’s borders, sovereignty and resources?” Bassil asked rhetorically.

U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly has reportedly asked Speaker Nabih Berri why Lebanon would not strike deals with companies to start oil exploration in its territorial waters as Israel did pending a solution to its conflict with the Jewish state on the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Media reports quoted Berri as answering Connelly that the maritime border line between Lebanon and Israel should be drawn. “If someone is seeking or working to reach a peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel to settle the oil issue, then this didn’t and won’t happen.”