Daily Star - Cabinet Approves Law Against Domestic Violence

By Nafez Qawas Daily Star correspondent

BEIRUT: The Cabinet approved Tuesday a law on domestic violence to be transferred to Parliament for ratification, while tasking a ministerial committee to tackle the issue of oil search on Lebanese seashore. The government which was headed by Premier Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail is expected to convene Wednesday to adopt a procedure to fill state vacant administrative positions following President Michel Sleiman arrival to Beirut from Qatar. On another note, Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Juan Carlos Gafo highlighted Tuesday Syria’s pivotal role on the regional level along with Lebanon among other Arab states in participating effectively to reach a breakthrough in the Mideast peace process. During a news conference to announce the agenda of Hariri’s upcoming visit to Spain next Thursday, Gafo said Hariri would discuss with the Spanish president bilateral ties and progress on the Mideast peace process front. “Lebanon can participate effectively in the Middle East peace resolution and we urge all [regional] parties to participate in dialogue since we have to seize the current opportunity which may be the last before reaching the unknown given the current complicated situation,” Gafo said. “Spain is making a lot of diplomatic efforts as president of the European Union through contacts with the United States and other states...and the Arab states support the peace process particularly that the Arab strategic position leans toward peace,” he added. Gafo stressed that his country supported the rise of two states based on the Madrid peace initiative in 1991 which calls for an Israeli withdrawal of all occupied territories since 1967. Tackling the role of the United Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Gafo said the latter was not away from danger but Spain’s commitment for peace in the region would push us to continue our mission. “We are aware that the future of UNIFIL work is to diminish tensions in the region,” he added. As for Syria’s role in Lebanon, Gafo said it was important that Damascus establishes good ties with Lebanon based on mutual respect. “Hariri’s visit to Syria following his trip to Spain would promote a new relation based on state to state relations between both countries,” he said.