Cabinet decides on telecommunication companies' contracts

The Lebanese cabinet held an ordinary session on Tuesday morning at the Baabda Palace under the chairmanship of President Michel Sleiman. PM Najib Mikati and all the ministers attended the meeting.

50 items are on the cabinet’s agenda, including the contract renewal for telecommunication companies Alfa and Touch.

During the session, sources reported that the Lebanese government decided to grant one-month technical extension for telecommunication companies as a prelude for Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnoui’s proposition in cabinet. 

In this context, LBCI sources reported that Mikati voiced discontent for the delay on the part of Minister Sehnaoui in presenting the file of telecommunication companies’ contracts.

On the elections issue, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stated that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel “must fulfill his duties and conduct all the necessary preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections,” urging all political parties to anticipate the perils that might occur should the elections not held on their due time.

Separately, President Sleiman briefed the PM and the ministers on his visit to Russia, while PM Mikati reported the result of his participation in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2013 that took place in Davos – Switzerland.

Prior to the session, Mikati and Sleiman held a separate meeting, whereby they discussed the latest events.

It was later reported that President Sleiman commented on the civil marriage issue and said that "the abstention from signing an endorsed decision contradicts the Taif Agreement."

He also urged Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to check the validity of Nidal and Kholoud Succariyeh’s civil marriage contract.

For his part, PM Mikati stressed that the topic is sensitive and stances are controversial. "We are in no need of such debates in the country," he stated.

This as, the cabinet announced the postponement of the formation of  the electoral supervisory committee tasked to oversee electoral campaigns.