Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad, read the following
statement following the cabinet session.
“The Council of Ministers held its weekly meeting at 2:00 pm
in the Baabda Palace, chaired by President Michel Aoun, and attended by Prime
Minister Dr. Hassan Diab and ministers.
At the beginning of the session, President Aoun renewed his
wishes on the occasion of ‘Eid Al-Fitr, calling on addressing the issues that
had accumulated as a result of the holiday, especially those related to the
economic sectors, after the endorsement of the McKinsey plan that laid out a
general vision of the situation in Lebanon on the productive sectors. The
President considered that it is necessary for everyone to cooperate in both the
public and private sectors to reach quick measures to boost the economy.
President Aoun added “Regarding the electricity plan, I asked
the Council of Ministers to reconsider the decision taken during the previous
session, for the public interest and not from any private interest. The plan
noted the establishment of three electricity production plants in Zahrani, Deir
Ammar, and Selata. Whereas, the Deir Ammar plant is still suspended for
known reasons, and the Zouk and Jiyyah plants are old and there is a need to
replace them with new ones, which imposes the establishment of alternative
plants, including Selata plant, and since the study prepared stats
securing electricity 24/24, therefore the project is of importance in relation
to negotiations with international institutions, so it is necessary to proceed
with the electricity plan as planned in year 2019, and based on the decision of
the previous Government”.
Prime Minister Diab said “Today, I toured the Northern Beqaa
region, accompanied by the Vice PM and Army Commander, and reviewed the
measures taken to close illegal crossings used for smuggling between Lebanon
and Syria. Initially, it can be
said that these measures are supposed to lead to a large-scale of controlling
the smuggling operations, and we need to continue efforts, in order
to close this file, which causes great damage at various levels in Lebanon.
On Wednesday, we also visited UNIFIL
headquarters in the South, and the Lebanese Army headquarters South of Litani,
and announced from there that Lebanon adheres to the role of the UN forces and
its agency in Lebanon without any amendment, and reiterated Lebanon’s
commitment to implement Resolution 1701 and the need of obliging the
Israeli enemy to implement its part by ceasing its violations of Lebanese
sovereignty by land, sea and air.
On our agenda today, was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Emigrants request to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force
operating in South Lebanon for a period of one year, ending on August 31, 2021.
As for the parliament session yesterday, after
the honorable Parliament approved a stimulus and social security plan worth 1,200
billion L.L. in order to support families, small industrial enterprises,
farmers and craftsmen, decisions and decrees are required to determine the
distribution mechanism and beneficiaries.
Regarding the electricity plan, the Council of Ministers
affirms its adherence to the ministerial statement in terms of the electricity
plan and its implementation of previous Government decisions No.1 of 4/8/2019
and No.1 of 10/21/2019, which included establishing electric power production
plants, and consider that Cabinet Decision No. 2 on 5/25/2020 come in the
context of implementing this plan without contradicting the others”.
The Cabinet then reviewed the agenda and took the following
decisions:
-Approving the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Emigrants to extend the mandate of the UNIFIL in South Lebanon for a period of
one year ending on August 31, 2010.
-Approving the request of the Ministry of Agriculture to
authorize the Minister to sign a draft agreement that includes technical
assistance and a -gift in kind- with the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the UN (FAO) for enhancing the livelihoods and food security of the host
communities of displaced Syrians in both Lebanon and Jordan, by promoting sustainable
agricultural development”.
-Approving of the Ministry of Social Affairs request to renew
the joint contracts between the Ministry, NGOs and religious organizations from
01/01/2019 to 12/31/2020.
-The Cabinet also decided in principle to approve the use of
the Ghosta plant for sorting and treating household solid waste, after Phoenix
Energy agreed to the Government’s terms.
- Finally, the council decided to postpone appointments until
next Thursday’s session.