Cabinet Keeps Normal Pace, Tackles Uncontentious Files in Absence of FPM Ministers

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The cabinet convened on Thursday where it deliberately tackled only normal issues and stayed away from contentious files in light of the absence of ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement and the Tashnaq party.

“It has been agreed to postpone discussions on controversial issues. Prime Minister Tammam Salam has assured that the productivity of the cabinet signals that the government will continue to shoulder responsibility,” said Information Minister Ramzi Jreij after the meeting.

“We expect the FPM ministers to attend the next cabinet meeting,” said Jreij, as he assured that the cabinet is not suffering from conformity to the national pact.

The cabinet will meet next on September 8.

On the other hand, Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon left the session before it ended as reports said that he protested the discussions that touched on major issues, in light of an agreement among the interlocutors not to tackle such subjects, which requires the presence of all parties.

On the trash file, Jreij said: “The cabinet gave the Agriculture Minister (Akram Shehayyeb) the right to negotiate with regard to the trash management file to ensure a proper functioning of the plan and to make sure that the garbage does not go back to the streets.”

Earlier, al-Joumhouria daily said that the cabinet's Thursday meeting will not tackle controversial issues because Prime Minister Tammam Salam wanted to avoid triggering a provocative situation to preserve “national equilibrium” and the “continuity of the government's work.”

Several contacts that were held overnight have shown that the cabinet will convene today in the absence of ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement and the Tashnag party, but will be attended by AMAL and Hizbullah ministers, added the daily.

The meeting will address several issues on the agenda without touching on items not listed on it.

In this sense, today's meeting will not see the thorny issue of military appointments nor the term extension of the Army command chief because “although Salam is keen on the role of the council of ministers to address the affairs of the state and people, he does not intend to create a provocative situation to preserve national equilibrium and the continuity of the work of the government.”

Contacts with Salam said that Hizbullah's calls for the postponement of the meeting only meant to record a stance in solidarity with the FPM.

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