Naharnet

Salam Determined to Improve Cabinet Work despite Troubles

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has lamented that the government was suffering over the absence of a president despite his determination to improve its productivity.

As Safir daily on Monday quoted Salam as saying that “the work of the government has been transformed into a permanent suffering that takes several forms amid the presidential vacuum.”

“The government is going through an unnatural and uncomfortable situation,” he said.

Despite his deep frustration over stalled matters in the cabinet, Salam said that he would keep on working to improve the productivity of the government to confront several issues.

Salam was asked whether cabinet members would reevaluate the mechanism that they had adopted following the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's term in May.

“We will see what will happen,” he said.

The cabinet began exercising the president’s prerogatives after the parliament failed to elect a successor to Suleiman. Salam has adopted the collective vote formula that requires the approval of the 23 ministers on major decisions.

The prime minister told his visitors on Sunday that all factions should be aware of the dangers facing the country after the Israeli air raid on Hizbullah on January 18.

The attack on the Hizbullah convoy in the area of Quneitra on the Syrian side of the Golan heights left six Hizbullah members and an Iranian general dead.

“We should always work on safeguarding” Lebanon, said Salam.

His comments, which were published in As Safir on Monday, came as the army engaged in battles with terrorists on the border with Syria.

“The army's capabilities should be improved … so that it plays its role,” Salam said.

G.K.

H.K.

Source: Naharnet


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