Salam Enters Grand Serail after Confidence Vote, Meets Plumbly

Prime Minister Tammam Salam entered the Grand Serail on Friday in an official ceremony a day after his 24-member government received a vote of confidence.

Senior staff welcomed him at the government house in downtown Beirut.

An Internal Security Forces band played patriotic music as Salam walked on the red carpet.

Ninety Six MPs of the 128-member parliament backed on Thursday Salam's government after a two-day debate on its policy statement.

Four lawmakers voted against it while a fifth abstained.

Salam thanked the MPs “for their valuable suggestions” and said his cabinet shares their concerns.

“We promise that we will put the legitimate demands on the track of implementation,” Salam said in a speech that preceded the vote of confidence.

“Let no one expect miracles and we will do everything in our capacity to address the problems,” he said, calling for “strengthening accord so that it becomes a net of safety for our country."

He also promised to hold the presidential elections on time to prevent vacuum.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly, was the first diplomat to meet with Salam after the ceremony to congratulate him on the vote of confidence.

The major support that the premier got in parliament is a sign that that the Lebanese people are determined to preserve stability and the continuity of the state's institutions, Plumbly said after the talks.

The diplomat also welcomed a decision by the government to give priority to security issues.

“The United Nations looks forward to working closely with the government in addressing many of the subjects highlighted in the ministerial statement, including the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the implementation of resolution 1701,” he said.

“We have all been deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in Tripoli, by the repeated and totally unacceptable violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty along Lebanon’s northern and eastern borders with Syria and by the consequent loss of life,” he added.

Plumbly lauded the Lebanese army and security forces that “have been working tirelessly to safeguard the country in these difficult times.”