Oil Appointments into Application, Roux: STL Credibility Questioned
Oil Appointments Proceed, Qortbawi Warns of Judiciary Void
As the Lebanese weekly agenda closes its doors on a political deadlock, it seems that the livelihood issues are the titles of the coming phase.
More and more spoiled food is uncovered and the Lebanese fear is escalating regarding a hot and dark expected summer if no breach is reached on the electricity front.
Mikati's Offer to Replace Ships
In this context, "an-Nahar" Lebanese newspaper revealed Saturday that "Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to present a report on the leasing of power-generating vessels before government on Wednesday."
"He is also to deliver the proposal of an American company to produce power in Lebanon," the paper added.
In parallel, "as-Safir" daily reported that "Mikati had received a proposal from "General Electric" that includes the construction of a power plant, worth 500 megawatts and at the cost of $450 million."
"The project will take a year to be complete," it clarified adding that "the leasing of power-generating ships will cost $460 million, not including fuel."
"As-Safir" further mentioned that "the rent period will last five years."
Ministerial sources told the paper that "the PM would bring up a new report before the Cabinet that rejects the boats' option and puts forward a solution he considers decisive to the problem of electricity."
For its part, "al-Akhbar" newspaper has learned that "one of Mikati's ideas consists of forming a gathering of private generator owners within the framework of companies selling electricity to the state by placing their generators near transformers and distributions stations."
"The Lebanese people are well aware of their interests and the interests of the Treasury despite the fact that they have to wait eight months instead of five months for generating ships," sources close to Mikati told "as-Safir".
"The installation of new groups means that they are the state's own property, rather than ships chartered for a period of three or five years," they clarified.
A senior minister commented on Mikati's stance by saying: "The ball is in PM's field."
The minister also wondered "if Mikati had a better solution to the electricity crisis, why did he keep it in his sleeve all this period?"
"Our conviction is that there is more than one hidden stitch behind Mikati's performance," the minister viewed.
Another prominent minister warned that "the electricity crisis may lead to protests on the ground especially that the issue of ships has been eliminated."
"In light of this disruption and poor groups' performance, the next summer threatens with further darkness," the minister added.
In the same context, "an-Nahar" unveiled that "the Iranian electricity offer still stands," clarifying that "the offer aims at instantly providing Lebanon with 250 megawatts through Iraq and Syria or Turkey and Syria."
It is worth mentioning that the Lebanese power grid cannot currently withstand more than 250 megawatts, but there are plans to rehabilitate it in order for it to be able to support 500 megawatts.
On the oil level, the Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish announced that "his ministry is ready to begin the proceedings of appointing oil sector's governing body."
In an interview with "as-Safir" daily, Fneish confirmed that "he is prepared to carry out the necessary contacts with the Energy Ministry on Monday regarding the necessary conditions for appointments."
For his part, Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi warned against the failure to resolve the dispute over the judicial appointments before June 5.
"The failure to resolve the matter will cripple the judiciary," he told the same daily explaining that "the tenures of seven members of the Higher Judicial Council end on June 5, while General Prosecutor Judge Saeed Mirza's tenure ends in June."
Qortbawi moved on to uncover that "only one member of the council would remain should the appointments dispute stay unresolved until those dates."
Meanwhile, raids and confiscations of spoiled foodstuffs have revealed the dangers facing citizens in their everyday lives.
The Lebanese army confiscated Friday 5 tons of milk and special diet food, most of which were past their expiration date or had been relabeled with new dates.
However, a new scene enters the daily Lebanese series as LA unveiled that some of Friday's confiscated products are made in "Israel" and that their source of manufacture had been covered up.
Roux: Neglecting False Witnesses Affects STL's Credibility
On the Special Tribunal for Lebanon front, the head of STL's Defense Office Francois Roux warned against measures that may affect the tribunal's credibility.
Roux stressed in an interview with "as-Safir" that "the failure to hand former General Security chief Jamil Sayyed documents related to the false witnesses file may harm the STL's credibility."
"The prosecutor is obligated to perform measures that would help achieve justice," he asserted.
Source: Lebanese newspapers,
Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
