Cabinet to exert all possible efforts to reveal the fate of Lebanese ambushed in Tal Kalakh

Under the chairmanship of Premiere Najib Mikati, cabinet convened on Tuesday at the Grand Serail to discuss 64 items on its agenda.           

The meeting was attended by various ministers except Minister Gebran Bassil, Salim Jreissati and Salim Karam.                                  

Ministers also tackled the issue of the Lebanese nationals who died in Syria's Tal Kalakh and the repercussions of this incident, announcing that the cabinet will exert all possible efforts to reveal their fate.                                                    

In this context, Ministerial sources said that Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour's intervention with the Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdel Karim Ali will succeed in retrieving the dead Lebanese nationals of Talkalakh.                       

Sources added that the identity of those who encouraged the Lebanese men to head for Syria to fight and consequently die must be revealed.                                     

Upon his arrival to the Serail, Minister of Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour said that he is still waiting for a response from the Syrian authorities in this regard.                                  

For his part, Premiere Najib Mikati reiterated the call on Lebanese government to adhere to self-distancing policy in regards to Syrian issue.                                               

On another note, the Cabinet will also discuss the security situation, mainly in Tripoli, whereby the ISF and the LAF are working to control the volatile situation there.                                
As for the Telecommunications data issue, the decision of the Judicial Committee, which refused handing over the data to the ISF, will be taken into account, but a final verdict in this regard will not be taken today.                                              

For his part, Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui said that he will not discuss the aforementioned file, but instead, will be revealing details on the security threats he has been receiving.                                                          

Regarding the issue of MP Okab Saker in light of the recordings broadcasted via several media outlets, sources said that some ministers will discuss lifting Sakr's immunity seemingly since the latter confirmed the validity of the recordings and his involvement in the crimes mentioned.                               


In this context, the Health Minister said that MP Sakr's issue shall be tackled but lifting the latter's immunity is not allowed.              

"Lifting MPs' immunity is something for the General Prosecution to decide and not for House Speaker Nabih Berri," he noted. 

At the conclusion of the session Interior Minister Marwan Charbel announced that he will be visiting Tripoli to inquire about the security situation.

For his part, Information Minister Walid al-Daouk cited PM Najib Mikati’s call for calm in Lebanon’s Tripoli adding that the latter refuses the country falling victim to attempts to create unrest. "The army and security forces have taken all measures to control the security situation", he added.

On the economic situation, Daouk called on all sides to halt the tense political and media rhetoric in order to revive the economy.

On MP Oqab Sakr’s case, Daouk said that the issue was discussed at cabinet with some ministers expressing their opinion. However, no decision has been taken over the matter, he added.

On another note, the cabinet approved an Agriculture Ministry request to sign a cooperation agreement with the EU. The council also agreed to an Interior Ministry proposal to allow the United Nations Development Program to support the parliamentary elections as it approved a Development and Construction Council proposal to provide the necessary funds to perform maintenance work at the Rafik Hariri University Campus in al-Hadath.

The next cabinet session will be held on December 12.