Ministerial statement drafting committee to convene on Monday

The ministerial statement drafting committee wrapped up its 7th meeting on Friday and set another for Monday at 6 pm.            

Friday's meeting was held at the Grand Serail under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tammam Salam and in the presence of the seven members: State Minister for Parliamentary affairs Mohammad Fneish, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouq and Telecommunications Minister Boutros Harb.    

Following the meeting, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour said several issues were agreed upon, noting that other files are yet to be discussed.       

Abou Faour noted that talks will be held during the next two days in order to reach common grounds and to finalize the ministerial statement, stressing that the controversy over the Baabda Declaration was settled while deliberations over the People-Army-Resistance formula are ongoing.         

For his part, Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi said that determining the relation between the Lebanese state and the Resistance is at the core of discussions.