Cabinet OKs Electricity-Related Items, to Hold Its Last Session Monday
The Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved some agenda items related to power generation as it decided to hold its last session Monday ahead of turning into a caretaker cabinet with the expiry of the term of the incumbent parliament.
It approved several items during its session at the Baabda Palace, including granting a license for the establishment of the Saint Georges University in Beirut, an item on generating electricity from wind turbines, and two items on seaside properties in Zouk and Chouf.
An item on seaside properties in Dbaye-Zouk al-Khrab was meanwhile postponed for technical reasons.
After the session, Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh announced that the Democratic Gathering ministers voiced reservations over all electricity-related items and that “only the one-year extension for the Fatmagul Sultan power ship was approved after negotiations on slashing the cost.”
Separately, the Cabinet rejected a proposal to abolish the Brevet (Grade 9) national exams.
Wednesday's session was expected to be Cabinet's last session ahead of the formation of a new government.
The Cabinet discussed 83 agenda items, including the problematic electricity file and the general guidelines for the development of the Rafik Hariri International Airport, and several other issues.
The Cabinet held minute’s silence in protest against the Israeli army’s killing of Palestinians on the Gaza border.
At the opening of the session, Aoun denounced the “Israeli assaults against Palestinians in Gaza,” which left around 61 Palestinians dead on the Israeli-Gaza border.
The President said that “the foreign minister (Jebran Bassil) will represent Lebanon at an emergency Islamic summit in Istanbul on Friday.”
The cabinet session had been preceded by a meeting between Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Prior to the meeting, Minister Hamadeh confirmed that the Brevet exams would be held on their set date.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Qansou, commented on the possibility of importing electricity from Syria.
"Meetings have taken place between technicians from both countries, and discussions are at their final stages," the Minister explained, deeming electricity importation from Syria the cheapest and fastest way.
Source: Naharnet
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