Introduction to the evening news 28-03-2012

As he was entering the hall where the cabinet’s session was held, Energy Minister Gebran Bassil made a surprising announcement regarding the electricity issue saying that the item pertaining to this issue should be raised during the session even if it is the last item on the agenda, before it turns into another case of false witnesses. 

Was he hinting at the possibility that FPM ministers will abstain from attending sessions if this item is not settled today or if it is not placed amongst the first items in next sessions’ agendas? Will they pull a stunt similar to the condition set by March 8 forces that demanded to place the false witnesses’ item on top of the agenda during the previous government’s mandate or else they would abstain from participating in the cabinet sessions?

The majority is keen on safeguarding the cabinet and the calm surrounding it; therefore all options to settle the electricity problem remain open. Not one report was submitted by the committee in charge of this task. In fact, its head, PM Najib Mikati, recommended power plants rather than electricity-generating ships. Minister Bassil’s report recommends ships for 5 years, while minister Safadi’s report recommends ships for 3 years and Environment Minister is still on the sideline.

Domestic issues did not overshadow the Arab summit that will be held on Thursday in Baghdad for the first time since 1990. This time Arabs will return to Baghdad in the absence of Presidents Sadam Hussein, Bin Ali, Mubarak, Gaddafi and Ali Abdul Saleh. How will this first Arab summit taking place during the Arab Spring look like?