Naharnet - Miqati Stresses Commitment to Sustainable Development , Calls for Environment Tribunal, June 22 2012

Premier Najib Miqati stressed on Thursday Lebanon’s commitment to sustainable development and made several recommendations at the Rio+20 summit that included the formation of an international environment tribunal.

“Lebanon is committed to this basic cause that should be at the priority of states and peoples,” Miqati told the 190-nation summit, the first large-scale conference on sustainable development in a decade held in Rio de Janeiro.

He said Lebanon has “intensified its efforts in that regard and lately approved several laws that were mentioned in the Rio Declaration in 1992.”

The prime minister also revealed that Lebanese authorities were “putting the final touches on a seven-point work plan to achieve economic, social and environmental reform.”

“Lebanon is an example that shows the relationship between achieving sustainable development (on one side) and security, peace and stability” on the other, he said.

He told the summit that Lebanon backs calls for the adoption of a green economy and the support for the U.N. Environment Program or for its transformation into a special environment authority.

Miqati also recommended the establishment of an international environment tribunal, saying Israel failed to provide Lebanon with compensation on the pollution it caused in its 2006 aggression on the country.

“Sustainable development can’t be achieved without a permanent and just peace for all peoples,” he said in his speech. “That’s why Lebanon reiterates the right of self-determination for Palestinians and their return home to an independent state.”

Miqati added that Lebanon rejects to naturalize them.

At Friday's close, the summit is due to endorse a lengthy statement vowing to tackle earth's environmental problems and entrenched poverty.

"This is a very good document, this is the vision on which we can build our dreams, our visions and it is important that the member states are united and work together," said U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, who on Thursday also unveiled five objectives to put an end to world hunger.

Also Thursday, Miqati met with a delegation from the Lebanese community in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.

He urged the expats to contact the Lebanese embassy and consulates in Brazil to participate in the 2013 parliamentary elections “because your votes are very important.”

“Lebanon can only rise through its resident and expat wings,” he stressed.

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