Ministeral Statement to Avoid STL, Stick to the Resistance

Ministerial sources informed the Lebanese newspaper "As-Safir" that the ministerial statement didn't yet discuss the item of Special Lebanese Tribunal (STL) reporting that "the Prime Minister Najib Mikati will present next Monday a formula that reflects the position of the Lebanese government on this issue and how to deal with it in the next stage."

"The formula is going to be a result of a round of consultations conducted by the head of government in the coming hours with the first row political leaderships in the new majority in this regard."

The STL article, however, entered a break in search for an "acceptable phrase" that is expected to be approved by the Committee during a meeting scheduled for Monday.
Ministerial sources close to Mikati pointed out to the existence of serious proposals "not to mention any direct thing about the International Tribunal in the body of the ministerial statement."

"The ministerial statement is to replace the STL item by a format that meets with the goal of achieving justice and uncovering the killers of Rafik Hariri and other crimes revealing that the formula prepared by Mikati reflects the Lebanese government's assertion that it will not fail to meet the obligations to serve justice and deter the criminals in the interest and stability of Lebanon and the security of the homeland and citizens."

The sources summarized the outcomes of the Committee of Ministers in the four sessions, where they said that the ministerial statement draft may not exceed nine "full scope" pages characterized by realistic and objective content that is not based on pouring promises impossible to achieve.

According to the paper, the statement takes into account the major economic and social challenges faced by the Lebanese noting the importance of taking comprehensive development steps, and other steps that lead to the advancement of the economy, the financial maintenance , the monetary stability, and the reduction of the public debt burden.

"It also notes the government's efforts to develop a social plan, in order that the benefits reach all segments of the Lebanese society, especially the needy and disadvantaged and those with limited income."

Regarding administrative issue, the wording reflects "emphasis on the orientation of the new government to strengthen state institutions and renewing confidence in them. From this point, the administrative appointments and filling vacant positions form a primary and a key objective to the government according to the criteria of merit and efficiency, and thus reproducing the mechanism approved by Saad Hariri's Government of administrative appointments that have not been applied yet."

According to the mentioned sources, the political part of the statement "takes into account the permanent political situation, which is divided vertically taking the recent developments as a base to reach out all the Lebanese, without exception, and to emphasize the unity of the state, to preserve Lebanon, to protect and maintain its sovereignty, and on the top comes the emphasis on civil peace and the role of the Lebanese army and Lebanese security forces in maintaining and preventing tampering with this civil peace."

In respect to the parliamentary elections, the statement approved the principle of proportional representation as the basis for a new electoral law providing the proper representation of all Lebanese people, pointing out that the basis of this is the adherence to the Taif Agreement.
The sources pointed out that the wording of the statement gives a great priority to the international resolutions in terms of affirming the Lebanese government's respect to the international resolutions, particularly resolution 1701, calling upon the international community to put an end to "Israeli" violations, its permanent threats and the espionage it carries out."

According to ministerial sources themselves, the government asserts the right of Lebanon, the people, the army and the resistance to liberate the land and recover the Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shuba hills as well as the Lebanese part of Ghajar village, and to defend Lebanon against any aggression upholding the right of water through all legitimate and available means."
The statement points out that this is one of government's priorities that which will continue to ask "Israel" to compensate Lebanon for the damages caused by its obsessive aggression and the release of prisoners and return of the martyrs' bodies."