Cabinet to tighten security measures, impose state authority

The cabinet decided on Wednesday to tighten security measures, impose the state’s authority across all Lebanese regions, hold accountable all law violators and inflict the most severe punishments on them.          

The cabinet, which convened earlier in the day at the Baabda Palace, approved more funds for the LAF and foreign currency bond issuance.           

During the session, President Michel Suleiman confirmed that happiness over the 2000 Liberation Day is incomplete due to two matters: first, the kidnapping of 11 Lebanese men by a Syrian group; second, the fact that we were not up to the mission of “liberation”, given that the people that liberated their country and defeated terrorism have failed to build their own country.           

Suleiman revealed that he decided to visit Gulf States after the latters warned their citizens against travelling to Lebanon, adding that he will visit Kuwait on Sunday to discuss the issue of Lebanese hostages.         

The President stressed that the only solution for the Lebanese people is dialogue, adding that his call [for dialogue] aims at maintaining permanent contact between different Lebanese factions and reconsidering the strategic goals that protect Lebanon.          

In turn, PM Najib Mikati called on the cabinet to immediately approve the draft budget and to refer it to the parliament.           

The cabinet session discussed the issue of EDL workers, as the ministers agreed that their protest went beyond the agreed-upon freedom of peaceful expression.