Report: Berri Says Preserving the Cabinet's Work Saves the State's Face

W460

Speaker Nabih Berri said that boycotting the cabinet's sessions reaps no benefits other than obstructing the people's daily interests, as he stressed that the cabinet is the last chance to save the State's face, An Nahar daily reported on Friday.

“Tell me. What is the benefit that can be derived from obstructing the cabinet's work other than hindering the citizens' daily interests which are not being addressed properly because of the differences?” asked Berri.

“The cabinet is the last chance to save the face of the State,” the Speaker told the daily.

Berri emphasized that as long as he rejects vacuum at the leadership of the army, then it is rather better to maintain the government's work so it would be capable of implementing the minimum tasks and responsibilities required.

Ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement and the Tashnaq Party boycotted Thursday's cabinet meeting in protest at the government's handling of the thorny issue of military appointments.

FPM chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil had warned that the FPM would resort to “the judiciary and street protests” if the cabinet passes decrees in the absence of the movement's ministers.

Last week, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel postponed the retirement of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir after no consensus was reached over three candidates that he had proposed, angering the FPM which says that it opposes term extensions for all senior officers.

The movement fears that the extension of Kheir's term could pave the way for a new extension of the tenure of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji next month.

Qahwaji's retirement had been postponed in September 2013 and his term was instead extended for two years.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 1
Missing humble 26 August 2016, 09:45

Get rid of one man and all Lebanon will be fine. The one man who is destroying the economy and the institutions.