BEIRUT: The Cabinet began debating the 2012 draft state budget Tuesday, avoiding as expected any discussion of the divisive issue of financing a U.N.-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri.
In the meantime, the parliamentary Future bloc of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri reminded the government of its obligations to pay Lebanon’s share to the court’s funding, saying this issue was linked to Lebanon’s future.
Tuesday’s meeting, chaired by President Michel Sleiman at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, was the first in a series of sessions the Cabinet will hold to debate the 2012 draft budget which has triggered a nationwide controversy because it called for new taxes. The budget also included allocations to pay Lebanon’s more than $30 million share to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
The ministers did not touch in their deliberations on the item concerning the STL’s funding, apparently to avert a split within the Cabinet. The ministers of Hezbollah and their March 8 allies oppose the court’s funding, while the ministers of Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt strongly support paying Lebanon’s share to the STL’s funding.
Asked how the Cabinet will approach the issue of the tribunal’s funding, Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters after the meeting, “This item is mentioned in the draft budget which was presented by the finance minister. It will be addressed by the means proposed by each minister.”
He said the ministers expressed divergent views on the new taxes proposed in the draft budget. Daouk said that after the ministers discussed the draft budget, it was decided that the ministers will make their proposals to the budget within a week. He said once the ministers have presented their proposals and observations about the draft budget, workshops will be formed to study each proposal.
Asked if some ministers rejected the draft budget, especially the new taxes, Daouk said, “No. I can confirm that today’s discussions were calmer than usual and serious. The session witnessed dialogue among the ministers away from heated discussions.”
Addressing the Cabinet session, Sleiman underlined the significance of Tuesday’s prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel for the Palestinians and the Arabs.
Noting that the government was 100 days old Tuesday, Sleiman said, “This is a good occasion to review achievements it has made. The basic and most important issue is the stability the country is enjoying.”
Mikati said that during its 100 days in office, the government has defined the Exclusive Economic Zone and approved a $1.2 billion plan to develop the electricity sector.
Meanwhile, the Future bloc renewed its call on the government to honor its commitment to pay Lebanon’s share to the STL’s funding.
“With the launching of the Cabinet sessions to debate the draft budget, the Future bloc stresses to the government and the public that the decision to finance the tribunal included in the budget is not a selective decision, a technical decision or a financial matter. It is a political and national issue par excellence that is directly linked to adherence to the principle of justice, protection of public freedoms and rejection to resort to the domination and logic of arms,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.
In a clear reference to Hezbollah and its allies who oppose the STL, the statement said: “Anyone who stands against the tribunal’s funding will have chosen to stand on the side of protecting the criminals and killers. Hence, the tribunal issue is linked to Lebanon’s future and Lebanon’s respect of its commitments to pledges and international charters.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly reiterated after meeting Tuesday with Energy Minister Jibran Bassil, Lebanon’s need to implement international obligations, including those relating to the STL.
“Connelly raised [with Energy Minister Jibran Bassil] the need for Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including Lebanon’s obligation to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” a statement from the U.S. Embassy said.
In the meantime, the parliamentary Future bloc of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri reminded the government of its obligations to pay Lebanon’s share to the court’s funding, saying this issue was linked to Lebanon’s future.
Tuesday’s meeting, chaired by President Michel Sleiman at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, was the first in a series of sessions the Cabinet will hold to debate the 2012 draft budget which has triggered a nationwide controversy because it called for new taxes. The budget also included allocations to pay Lebanon’s more than $30 million share to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
The ministers did not touch in their deliberations on the item concerning the STL’s funding, apparently to avert a split within the Cabinet. The ministers of Hezbollah and their March 8 allies oppose the court’s funding, while the ministers of Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt strongly support paying Lebanon’s share to the STL’s funding.
Asked how the Cabinet will approach the issue of the tribunal’s funding, Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters after the meeting, “This item is mentioned in the draft budget which was presented by the finance minister. It will be addressed by the means proposed by each minister.”
He said the ministers expressed divergent views on the new taxes proposed in the draft budget. Daouk said that after the ministers discussed the draft budget, it was decided that the ministers will make their proposals to the budget within a week. He said once the ministers have presented their proposals and observations about the draft budget, workshops will be formed to study each proposal.
Asked if some ministers rejected the draft budget, especially the new taxes, Daouk said, “No. I can confirm that today’s discussions were calmer than usual and serious. The session witnessed dialogue among the ministers away from heated discussions.”
Addressing the Cabinet session, Sleiman underlined the significance of Tuesday’s prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel for the Palestinians and the Arabs.
Noting that the government was 100 days old Tuesday, Sleiman said, “This is a good occasion to review achievements it has made. The basic and most important issue is the stability the country is enjoying.”
Mikati said that during its 100 days in office, the government has defined the Exclusive Economic Zone and approved a $1.2 billion plan to develop the electricity sector.
Meanwhile, the Future bloc renewed its call on the government to honor its commitment to pay Lebanon’s share to the STL’s funding.
“With the launching of the Cabinet sessions to debate the draft budget, the Future bloc stresses to the government and the public that the decision to finance the tribunal included in the budget is not a selective decision, a technical decision or a financial matter. It is a political and national issue par excellence that is directly linked to adherence to the principle of justice, protection of public freedoms and rejection to resort to the domination and logic of arms,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.
In a clear reference to Hezbollah and its allies who oppose the STL, the statement said: “Anyone who stands against the tribunal’s funding will have chosen to stand on the side of protecting the criminals and killers. Hence, the tribunal issue is linked to Lebanon’s future and Lebanon’s respect of its commitments to pledges and international charters.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly reiterated after meeting Tuesday with Energy Minister Jibran Bassil, Lebanon’s need to implement international obligations, including those relating to the STL.
“Connelly raised [with Energy Minister Jibran Bassil] the need for Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including Lebanon’s obligation to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” a statement from the U.S. Embassy said.
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