Iran’s Offer: 24 Hours of Electricity in Two Years, Why Not?!
As spring days pass, Lebanese people are preparing for a hot dark summer.
However, hopes and prays are raised so that the white smoke emerges from the council of ministers to find a solution for the prolonged crisis.
This comes as the fever of strikes hit various Lebanese economic sectors: health, petroleum, and judiciary.
Contacts Ahead of Gov't's Session
On the electricity crisis, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati seeks to find a solution to the electricity issue ahead of Wednesday's governmental session.
In this context, Mikati launched a series of contacts with ministers and heads of parliamentary blocs represented in the government.
Mikati's sources did not give details of the ongoing talks, but they expressed optimism about reaching an agreement to end the escalating dispute between Mikati and Energy Minister Gibran Bassil.
The dispute lies over a mechanism to improve electricity supply in the country, plagued by power rationing since the end of the Civil War.
After the meeting, Bassil announced that he discussed "several issues with the PM," noting that "it is not a matter of challenges. But the question is: Do we want electricity or not?"
"The PM has expressed his opinion and I'll express my opinion," Bassil stressed unveiling that he had asked Mikati's permission to speak at a news conference about this electricity issue prior to the government's scheduled meeting Wednesday."
In the same context, "al-Joumhoria" newspaper reported Tuesday that "President Michel Suleiman is working on approximating views and searching for acceptable solutions."
"Efforts in recent hours focused on bringing the viewpoints closer between Mikati on the one hand and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi and Bassil on the other hand," the paper added.
It also revealed that "Suleiman met Monday with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas away from media, and will meet Wednesday a number of concerned figures including Minister Bassil."
Waiting Iranian Offer: Best of All
For its part, "as-Safir" Lebanese daily uncovered Tuesday that "the Iranians offered through their famous international company, "Mina", to build two power generating stations in the North and the South of Lebanon."Sources stressed to the daily that "the Iranian offer ensured prices that are the cheapest in the world, as they don't exceed the cost price, not even with a penny."
"Iranians have pledged to provide the two stations with German equipments," sources revealed confirming that "the Iranian side provided facilities that don't expose Lebanon to any liability or embarrassment in light of the international sanctions imposed on Tehran."
According to sources, "not only did the Iranians propose to build a third power plant in anticipation of future Lebanese needs, but also they offered to provide Lebanon with electricity from Iran via the line passing through Iraq and Syria until the end of building the first generating station."
"as-Safir" sources further highlighted that "the establishment of such a type of plant typically requires about four years, but the Iranians vowed to work 24 hours a day to complete it within one year."
"The Iranian facilities are an application to the instructions of the Iranian leadership and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," Iranians explained to the Lebanese side.
The paper ended its report blaming the Lebanese political decision that "welcomed the Iranian offer but when reaching the stage of applying mechanisms, it returns back to column zero."
In parallel, the electricity row coincided with strikes and protests in separate Lebanese sectors.
More Strikes, Accounts on Agenda
Nearly 1,000 doctors and other hospital workers from throughout Lebanon gathered in Downtown Beirut's square to demand an immediate overhaul of social security benefits for medical workers and hospitals.
Similarly, lawyers from both Beirut and Tripoli's Bar Associations held a 24-hour strike Monday to protest the governmental delay in appointing someone to head the Higher Judicial Council.
Justice Minister Chakib Qortbawi told "as-Safir" that "he understands the lawyers' action, hence the need to complete the judicial appointments."
"The judiciary cannot be allowed to remain a stage for tensions, and everyone should know that," he affirmed.
Also, Lebanon's oil sector is planning a three-day strike next week over demands that the government allow gas stations to increase the surcharge they impose on customers.
Meanwhile, "an-Nahar" Lebanese daily mentioned that "the Wednesday's ministerial session at the Grand Serail is set to discuss the detailed accounts of the extra-budgetary spending made by the governments of former PMs Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri between 2006 and 2010."
According to the daily, "the finance ministry detailed the information in five separate draft-laws that were circulated to the ministers in addition to the 76-item agenda."
The head of the parliamentary "Finance and Budget" Committee, MP Ibrahim Kanaan, hailed the finance ministry's detailed accounts.
"Following the approval of the draft-laws by the government, they will be referred to the finance and budget committee for scrutiny," he clarified.
"This is a first step towards regaining the culture of law and public accountability which alone would allow Lebanon to control its revenues, expenditures and combat financial corruption that has been rampant for years," the MP confirmed.
Suleiman to Head Lebanese Delegation to Arab Summit
On the Lebanese participation to the Arab League summit to be held in Iraq at the end of this month, "al-Joumhoria" reported that "President Suleiman is to head Lebanon's delegation to the summit."
"Suleiman decided to be accompanied by a delegation limited to a number of advisers who will be joined by Foreign minister Adnan Mansour," the paper stated pointing out that "Mansour will arrive Baghdad in the coming hours to participate in the meetings of Arab foreign ministers."
On another level, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that "the Global March to al-Quds'" demonstration in Lebanon is in the hands of the Lebanese army."
"The organizing committee informed us with the movement, and we have no problem in this matter," he asserted stating that "Lebanon stands by the Palestinians in condition that no problem happens similar to the last year."
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
