BEIRUT: Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas said Wednesday that Cabinet was considering removing the clause concerning funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) from the draft 2012 state budget.
“Withdrawing this item from the budget is likely to be a solution so that the dispute over the issue [STL funding] does not lead to delay in budget’s approval,” Nahhas told a local radio station Wednesday.
He said Cabinet would discuss this option during Wednesday afternoon’s meeting to be held in the Grand Serail.
Cabinet, which only Tuesday began debating the 2012 draft state budget, evaded debate on the divisive issue of financing the U.N.-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first in a series of sessions the Cabinet will hold to debate the 2012 draft budget, which includes the item dealing with the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Cabinet did not touch on the item, apparently to avert a split within the government.
Hezbollah ministers and their allies in the March 8 coalition oppose the court’s funding, while ministers linked to President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt have strongly voiced support to paying of Lebanon’s share of the court.
Asked how the Cabinet would approach the issue of the tribunal’s funding, Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters after Tuesday’s 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.”
“Withdrawing this item from the budget is likely to be a solution so that the dispute over the issue [STL funding] does not lead to delay in budget’s approval,” Nahhas told a local radio station Wednesday.
He said Cabinet would discuss this option during Wednesday afternoon’s meeting to be held in the Grand Serail.
Cabinet, which only Tuesday began debating the 2012 draft state budget, evaded debate on the divisive issue of financing the U.N.-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first in a series of sessions the Cabinet will hold to debate the 2012 draft budget, which includes the item dealing with the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Cabinet did not touch on the item, apparently to avert a split within the government.
Hezbollah ministers and their allies in the March 8 coalition oppose the court’s funding, while ministers linked to President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt have strongly voiced support to paying of Lebanon’s share of the court.
Asked how the Cabinet would approach the issue of the tribunal’s funding, Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters after Tuesday’s 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.”
No comments:
Post a Comment