Beirut Port Authority, Christian Parties Discuss New Proposal on 4th Basin
The representatives of Christian parties have heard a new proposal from the head of the Beirut Port Authority, Hassan Qoraytem, on the controversial filling of the port's fourth basin, local dailies reported on Tuesday.
Al-Joumhouria and al-Liwaa newspapers quoted sources as saying that Maronite Bishop Boulos Sayyah attended the meeting that was held in Bkirki.
Both Bkirki and Christian parties - the Free Patriotic Movement, Kataeb Party, the Lebanese Forces, Marada Movement and the Tashnag – reject filling the basin.
The plan to fill it sparked controversy in December when the truckers syndicate went on strike over fears that the project would cause hundreds of Beirut Port employees, mostly truckers, to lose their jobs.
The syndicate claims that the filling of the basin would end the role of Beirut Port and would harm the economy.
The truckers later ended their strike after Prime Minister Tammam Salam said the work to fill the basin would freeze until the issue was resolved.
The sources said Qoraytem told the conferees about a plan to fill only one-third of the 75,000-square-meter basin.
Following the talks, the representatives of the parties asked Qoraytem for a three-week deadline to study his proposal, they said.
Their next meeting is set for May 8, the sources added.
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