Cabinet Approves Airport Equipment Item, Postpones State Budget, Electricity to Monday
The Cabinet on Friday approved an item on purchasing security equipment for Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, postponing the discussion of the state budget and the electricity plan to a session that will be held on Monday.
“All the items on the agenda have been approved and the session was adjourned to 4:00 pm Monday to complete the revision of the state budget and discuss the electricity plan,” Information Minister Melhem Riachi said after the session, noting that the discussion of the electricity plan will continue on Tuesday.
Asked whether the item on the airport's equipment was approved, Riachi said “the book of conditions was approved and a call for tenders will be organized to equip the airport and boost its security.”
Environment Minister Tarek Khatib had told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Friday that the Cabinet would make a “pre-final budget reading” taking into consideration the observations made during last week's meeting.
“The approval of the final budget plan will be at the next cabinet meeting which will be held at the presidential palace in Baabda. It will then be referred to the parliament for final approval,” added Khatib.
Al-Joumhouria said an air survey of the risks around the airport will be conducted in preparation for the launch of a plan that enhances its security and qualifies it to meet the international standards adopted around the world.
Last week, the Cabinet conducted a reading of the draft state budget and said it would approve it in another session after consultations with President Michel Aoun.
Lebanon has not approved a state budget since 2005 due to political differences between the rival parties.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/227443 |