Cabinet session convenes at the Grand Serail

Cabinet session convened on Wednesday at the Grand Serail under the chairmanship of PM Najib Mikati with 58 items on its agenda, chief among which the issue of maritime borders.                           

Ahead of the session, Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi declared starting the payment of high cost living for public sector at the end of September, including the differences from previous months, starting with February. For his part, Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil stressed that there is no disagreement between Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Najib Mikati regarding the formation of a committee charged with oil sector management.         

The cabinet approved on Wednesday a Norwegian grant in support of efforts aiming at providing Syrian refugees with vital needs during their stay in Lebanon, Information Minister Walid Daouk said in today's cabinet session.                

Daouk also confirmed that most recent contacts have confirmed that the 10 abducted Lebanese pilgrims were safe and sound.                  

Commenting on Tripoli’s unrest, the Minister expressed hope that the city will resume its developmental projects once peace was restored in the region.        

The cabinet also approved proposals aiming at handling the sufferings of Baalbeck-Hermel residents after security forces destroyed the area's cannabis fields.                     

Opening up the sessions, Prime Minister Najib Mikati hailed efforts by all those who contributed to the release of Hussein Ali Omar, but fervently condemned all sorts of abductions which had been lately witnessed, whether in Lebanon or in Syria.                      

As for the scores of missing Lebanese in Syrian jails, Mikati confirmed that his cabinet was deploying efforts to locate their whereabouts and ensure their release.               

"The Minister of Justice will be following up on this case, and the cabinet will be handed soon a modified formula by the independent national committee studying the case of those unwillingly missing," said Mikati.