Miqati Vows Commitment to STL, Says Cabinet 'Can’t be Selective'
Prime Minister Najib Miqati pledged on Sunday to renew commitment to all the international resolution during his upcoming visit to New York City to attend a U.N. Security Council session on the Middle East, stressing that the cabinet cannot be selective in implementing the resolutions.
“The Special Tribunal for Lebanon exists… We can’t implement only the resolutions that we favor and rule out the others,” Miqati told An Nahar newspaper.
He said if Lebanon wants to protect its reputation and credibility towards the international community “we should either commit to the (international) resolutions, or we shouldn’t.”
Asked about the funding of the STL probing the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, Miqati noted “the issue should be discussed in a calm way away from any political fuss.’
“We care about the country’s best interest and this will not happen through strong political rhetoric… our only aim is to preserve the country’s unity and stability,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Miqati said that amid the turmoil in the region and the local developments “we have sought to work hard to restore the confidence among the people.”
Concerning the electricity project, the premier said “priority is for the state budget.” He revealed that a meeting was held with Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi to discuss the available options.
Miqati said that the new project will introduce new taxes, however, a balanced mechanism will be followed “not all society ranks can bear the same burdens, therefore, the new taxes must be imposed on the activities not the (social) ranks.”
He stressed that the cabinet is still discussing all the potential options “but we can’t expand the margin deficit, as the state needs additional incomes to carry out its duties towards the community.”
The PM noted that the government referred the electricity draft law to the parliament on Saturday and that the issue is in the hands of the Speaker to issue it to vote in the parliament or to refer it to the apprehensive committees to examine it.
Miqati said that the state administrative appointments issue is being addressed in a rational way “whenever we (the cabinet) agree on a list of appointments we approve it immediately.”
“All appointments are following the mechanism stated by the cabinet,” he added. Miqati remarked that the priority is for the control departments.
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