Cabinet Mulls Reactivating Rene Mouawad Airport as Miqati Urges March 14 to 'Meet Govt. Halfway'

Cabinet approved on Wednesday a proposal to study the requirements to reactivate the Rene Mouawad Airport in Akkar as Prime Minister Najib Miqati criticized the March 14-led opposition's decision to boycott the national dialogue and government activity.

The Transportation and Public Works Ministry has been tasked with carrying out the study.

The March 14 camp has deemed the reactivation of the airport as a security necessity as it says Hizbullah “has taken over the Rafik Hariri International Airport.”

It also says that the reopening of the Rene Mouawad airport will help boost the economy through the thousands of job opportunities it provides.

Miqati had also hoped during the cabinet session, which was held at the Grand Serail, that the March 14 camp would retract its decision to boycott government activity.

Information Minister Walid al-Daouq had quoted Miqati as saying: “The opposition should meet the government halfway.”

The premier noted that the recent developments in the southern city of Sidon “may have sparked sectarian strife in Lebanon,” but the army managed to contain the situation.

He called on all the political leaders to “halt the sectarian rhetoric and refrain from accusing the government of shortcomings.”

“Instead of criticizing the government, the opposition is better off meeting it halfway,” noted Miqati during the cabinet session.

“They should drop their negativity, which has never produced a solution to any problem,” he added.

“The government has made achievements despite the ongoing campaigns against it,” he stated.

The March 14 forces announced their boycott of government activity in light of the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan.

He was killed in a car bomb explosion in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district on October 19.

The opposition accused the Syrian regime of being behind the crime, while blaming the government, which is comprised of mainly pro-Syria allies, of covering up for the criminals.

The cabinet also stressed the role of the army in maintaining security in Lebanon and imposing the authority of the state throughout the country.

Three people were killed and a number wounded in Sidon on Sunday during an armed clash between Hizbullah and supporters of Salafist cleric Shiekh Ahmed al-Asir.

Cabinet decided during its session to dedicate L.L. 7,000,000 to expand Roumieh prison and establish a trial chamber.

It also agreed to a proposal by Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to activate the Deir Aamar power plant.

An agreement was also reached to establish a government hospital in the northern region of Akkar.

Miqati also revealed through his Twitter account that the cabinet approved dedicating L.L. 20 billion to the Rafik Hariri University Hospital.