Miqati from Serail: I Urge Cooperation between Opposition, Pro-Cabinet Forces to Achieve Nation’s Interest

An official reception was held at the Grand Serail Friday morning in honor of Prime Minister Najib Miqati after his government received the vote of confidence at parliament on Thursday, reported the National News Agency.

He said upon his arrival: “My hand is extended to all sides, the opposition before the pro-government forces, in order to set aside past disputes and start a new chapter of cooperation for the sake of Lebanon.”

“The parliamentary discussions of the government policy statement focused on the political matters when social issues should be no less important,” he said.

The government will address the people’s concerns in the energy, economic, telecommunications, and academic fields, he continued.

“The statements at parliament revealed positions that we should take into consideration for the service of Lebanon,” the premier noted.

“We welcome any productive and objective opposition and I call for cooperation between the opposition and pro-cabinet forces to achieve the nation’s interest,” Miqati declared.

“Our government won’t be a confrontational one. It is keen on Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, safety, security, and dignity,” he stressed.

“It will only confront whoever stands in the way of these goals,” he added.

The premier arrived at the Grand Serail to the sound of music played by the Internal Security Forces where the guards at the scene performed their formal salute.

Miqati was greeted by cabinet Secretary General Suheil Bouji and a number of officials.

He is then scheduled to take a family vacation until the end of the weekend.

Miqati had stated during his speech at the end of parliament’s discussions of the cabinet policy statement on Thursday that the government did not “ignore the issue of the possession of arms in Lebanon and its spread throughout Lebanon.”

He asserted that maintaining the country’s security will be the state’s exclusive right through its security institutions and legitimate arms, revealing that it will commence the necessary contacts to remove heavy and medium arms from various cities.

“Our cabinet was born out of pure Lebanese will for probably the first time in its history,” Miqati declared.

The government was granted confidence after winning a majority of 68 votes.