OGERO Snaps Back at Aoun: Only Cabinet Tasks the Company

OGERO snapped back at Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Wednesday, saying that the telecommunications minister doesn’t have the right to give certain tasks to the state-own company.

Aoun said Tuesday that OGERO was initially placed under the management of Radio Orient and it was later placed under the telecom ministry and therefore its functioning falls under the ministry’s authority.

OGERO enjoys administrative and financial independence, said a press release by the company. “Its by-laws do not include any statement or article that tasks OGERO with carrying out functions mandated by the telecom ministry.”

The statement said that only the council of ministers has the right to give the firm certain tasks.

It accused the telecom minister of “taking 4,500 families as hostages for reasons that have become clear to everyone.”

According to Aoun, the finance minister has no right to take 4,500 families hostage by not paying their salaries in order to politically pressure the telecommunications minister.