Naharnet

Draft Law on Demarcation of Border Distributed among MPs during Parliament Session

Parliament approved on Wednesday 25 draft laws and agreements out of 67 items during its first meeting since the new government received the vote of confidence.

The delineation of Lebanon’s maritime border was absent from the session, but a draft law on the matter was distributed among the MPs.

Lebanon’s maritime border, which holds significant oil and gas reserves, has become a new source of conflict with Israel.

A draft of the proposed delineation law was approved by the public works, transportation, energy and hydraulics parliamentary committee on Monday.

The committee referred the draft to Speaker Nabih Berri who may propose it for discussion and approval during the two-day parliamentary session, An Nahar daily said on Wednesday.

But informed sources told As Safir newspaper that if the delineation of the border wasn’t discussed on Wednesday or Thursday, then it will be put on the agenda of next week’s parliamentary session.

Among the lawmakers, who addressed the parliament is Butros Harb who said he has the right to know the details behind the release of the seven Estonian tourists.

He also criticized the government over alleged construction on church property in the predominantly Shiite town of Lassa in Jbeil district.

In addition, he slammed the cabinet for not divulging information about a blast in the Rouwais neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Hizbullah has said a gas canister had exploded but March 14 lawmakers questioned the claim.

While the circles of the National Struggle Front and the Change and Reform bloc did not confirm if MPs Walid Jumblat and Aoun would attend the session, they told al-Liwaa daily that March 14 MPs have agreed to have a strong participation and address a series of issues including the release of the Estonians, the Adeisseh incident, the attack on UNIFIL and the latest speech of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Parliament will hold another session on Thursday.


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