Report: FPM Presses Hizbullah for Action on Oil Exploration
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Free Patriotic Movement has blamed its ally Hizbullah for not speeding up efforts to make Lebanon an oil exploration country, As Safir newspaper reported on Thursday.
The daily said that the issue was discussed by FPM chief Michel Aoun and Hizbullah officials Hussein Khalil and Wafiq Safa during a meeting they held in Rabieh on Wednesday.
Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, who is Aoun's son-in-law, attended the talks.
Aoun and Bassil expressed frustration that Hizbullah was remaining “silent” to the obstacles preventing oil exploration, asking the party officials to have “pressing stances,” said As Safir.
Bassil warned in July that Israel’s discovery of a new offshore gas field near Lebanese territorial waters means the Jewish state could siphon some of Lebanon’s crude oil.
He urged the outgoing government to hold an extraordinary meeting to ratify decrees paving way for the country to start oil and gas explorations.
But Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati told As Safir that the priority now is to form a new government. A solution to this problem would later facilitate many pending issues, including oil exploration, he said.
Miqati stressed that the resigned cabinet failed to meet to ratify the decrees over reservations expressed my sides.
“Such a delicate and vital issue requires a sort of unanimity,” he said.
But Bassil held all political parties responsible for the delay in oil exploration either for wanting to serve regional parties or getting shares from the revenues.
“The danger of the delay in the adoption of the decrees lies in its repercussion on the companies that had expressed excitement to be part of the tenders,” he said.
“They could at any moment reject their participation in the tenders over their fears of lack of transparency,” Bassil added.
19 September 2013, 08:54
1314
Oil decrees delayed to give time for mikati and rifi to snap up prime tripoli properties-(since tripoli port seems geared up to be the main oil related port)
19 September 2013, 18:13
37
These Lebanese politicians will only ratify the oil exploration decrees when they have agreed to split the profits among their corrupt backsides!
What self respecting political class would deny their country he benefits of oil and gas revenue? Only in Lebanon would they be able to openly deny the nation this vital revenue because of their corrupt and greedy interests!
19 September 2013, 09:13
1513
God Bless the FPM for pressing the Iranian Islamic Resistance on the oil exploration issue specifically at this critical and crucial time in our nation's history. The danger in delaying the adoption of the decrees lies in its repercussion on the commissions to be paid by oil companies that had expressed excitement to be part of the tenders. These commissions are overdue and should be paid prior to the formation of a new government. Additionally, Rifi and specifically Rifi wants to develop properties in the tripoli port with chique & eleganté boutiques and water front nightspots overlooking oil tankers as they load and off load crude oil for export. Oil is also needed to support the resistance' military activities in Syria. These are but a few of the reasons why we must get on with the oil exploration immediately! Bless the FPM and the Resistance.
20 September 2013, 08:03
20
cause apparently you dont pay for oil like you dont pay for electricity. oh and thank the USA for the internet invention
19 September 2013, 11:51
1511
All what I have in mind is when they told u , 7assel hal Pantalon, ya general. u want to explore oil. u are an ally of a terrorist party, who will help u in this international job?, which need a reputation and full integrity in civilised world.
19 September 2013, 15:52
614
I am by no means a supporter of the FPM or for that fact March 14 either. Yet this article is quite impressive and shows that there is hope that the Lebanese can eventually build Lebanon. Even in a deadlock, stalemate position like this I must laud Aoun, even though I disagree much with his past and present actions and views, for making attempts to be progressive and do something that will benefit Lebanon.
19 September 2013, 17:57
84
oil? LOL... unable to solve the most basic issues lebanon is suffering from and they have their eyes on oil? what for? increase their wealth and give a few crumbs to lebanese? LOL what a populist masquerade this oil issue is.....
some think it will resolve everything... i highly doubt it when we see the incompetence and inefficiency lebanese politicians show to solve the basic needs which are still NOT met!
19 September 2013, 18:17
93
I see M8 and M14 thieving thugs have not agreed on how to split the loot (oil fortune) between them equally, so they continue to bicker and whine about their misfortune instead. Same movie, same theater, different day. This movie has been playing for 30 years now and the zombies continue to pay the admission to watch it again.
Yo people, denounce M8 and M14 today, save the future of your country for the sake of your children, tomorrow.
