Aoun Accuses Miqati of Escaping Oil Drilling Responsibilities
Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun accused Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday of escaping his responsibilities rather than calling for a cabinet session to approve oil drilling decrees.
Describing Miqati as the “hero” of irresponsibility in oil exploration, Aoun said the caretaker PM “is escaping his responsibility in calling for an oil session and everyone is accusing the other of rejecting such a session.”
He also accused Miqati of not having the ability to resolve “patriotic issues.”
“Is there a decision to dismantle the state,” he wondered ahead of an FPM conclave held at the Deir al-Kalaa country club in Beit Mery.
“Our natural resources should be used for development and not the division of shares. They neither belong to certain people nor to certain sects,” he said.
“We should manage them well to prevent the sale of our land,” he added.
Two decrees are yet to be approved to award tenders for offshore oil and gas exploration. Their approval would designate Lebanon’s 10 offshore blocks for exploration and determine the model for revenue sharing.
Friday's meeting of senior FPM officials and key Change and Reform bloc MPs under Aoun is aimed at reassessing the movement's status and its ties with other parties.
Aoun accused the authorities of paralyzing several draft-laws, such as benefits for the elderly and the import of diesel vehicles.
He appealed to the people to unite with the FPM to fight corruption rather than cry on their ill fate.
“We are not afraid of difficulties but the people should have awareness,” he said.
He urged them not to become bystanders in corruption in the sate “because its continuity is the responsibility of all the people.”
The FPM chief also called for a “sound executive authority which has an interest to serve the public.”
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has been trying since April to form a cabinet but he has blamed conditions set by the different parties on the failure to come up with a line-up.
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