Miqati Refuses Political Exploitation to Syrian Refugees Situation, Cabinet to Hold Extraordinary Session
The cabinet will hold an extraordinary session on Friday at Baabda Palace to discuss the electoral draft law which is based on proportional representation, al-Liwaa newspaper reported.
The cabinet added three more items to its agenda including the draft law on determining the conditions for acquiring citizenship, suggested by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied in a cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail allegations that the government is halting the medical care to the Syrian refugees.
“Some parties are exploiting the tragic situation of (the Syrian) refugees for political exploitation, and sometimes personal objectives that are known,” Miqati said, according to a statement read to reporters by Information Minister Walid Daouq.
The PM said that the security situation is stable, dismissing “rumors” about expected security incidents.
“This harms Lebanon’s image… the cabinet is committed to follow its path and stop any attempt to politically exploit the security situation,” Miqati stated.
National Struggle Front Parliamentary bloc sources told As Safir newspaper on Friday that some are exaggerating the numbers of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, noting that the real numbers reach 3,500 in Northern Lebanon, adding to them around 200 Syrian Families in the Bekaa, according to the Higher Relief Committee.
Change and Reform parliamentary bloc sources told the daily that the cabinet session adjusted the tasks of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, whereby it is no longer allowed to make agreements with other parties and spend without ministerial control.
The cabinet completed the discussions on the 57 articles on its agenda, during which a number of decisions were taken.
The ministers agreed to rent electricity generated by ships, paying the LL 80 billion dues of elective social security, approved the appointment of Brig. Fouad Khoury as acting director general of General Security.
Ministerial sources told al-Liwaa newspaper that Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi refused a proposal by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to recruit 2,000 policemen in the Internal Security Forces, since the budget can’t afford their salaries.
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