Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted wikileaks cable 3604 published by the U.S. Embassy to Beirut on November 12, 2006 as saying that now-PM Najib Mikati was concerned by the alliance between Hezbollah and the Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun and considered it a threat to the Sunnis.
According to the cable, Mikati told then-U.S. Ambassador Jeffery Feltman that, should he assume the office of Prime Minister, he will tackle the threat posed by the Hezbollah-Aoun alliance, by consolidating relations with Speaker Nabih Berri, who is “more Lebanese” than Hezbollah members will ever be. Mikati also expected that Hezbollah and Aoun would use all means necessary to take hold of the cabinet, including violent protests, the cable added.
The cable reported that during his meeting with Feltman on November 8, 2006 Mikati refused to become a mere tool in the hands of Syria’s allies and be used to overthrow Siniora’s government. Mikati vowed not to take power on the expense of then-PM Siniora. When Feltman warned Mikati against the “severe repercussions” of building his premiership on the ruins of Siniora’s government, Mikati stressed his support on the private and public levels to the cabinet, according to the cable.
The cable noted that Mikati was “ashamed” to confess that he contributed $150,000 to Al-Akhbar daily, which he considers pro-Syria and pro-Iran, adding that he was “disgusted” by the constant publicity that he refused to invest more of his money in this newspaper.
Future bloc MP Mohammed Kabbani told An-Nahar daily that the opposition will stick to its demands regarding the needed modifications to improve the electricity bill. Kabbani added that the opposition is keen on rendering the electricity bill compatible with the decisions taken by the cabinet on September 7, 2011.
“The most important modification to this draft law lies in the establishment of a regulatory body within three months and appointing a board of directors for Electricite du Liban (EDL)”, Kabbani said.
Kabbani highlighted the importance of a written, albeit brief,
presentation of the electricity draft law divided into 3 parts:
production, transportation and distribution. Kabbani added that the
presentation should be accompanied by a schedule to determine the
geographic and environmental aspects of the power plants.
“The opposition is calling on the cabinet to submit the results of the
bids to the Parliament”, Kabbani said. Kabbani added that the most
important aspect of the issue is related to the lending international
and Arab investors since the state needs retroactive funding or else
face turning to the Treasury to cover all the expenses related to the
electricity plan.
Kataeb Party MP Elie Marouni told Al-Liwaa daily that Maronite Patriarchate will not remain a national pillar if it changes its political orientation, adding that the clarifications provided by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai were enough to turn a new leaf and forget “the storm” triggered by Rai’s remarks from Paris.
“Tying the destiny of the Christians with that of the Assad regime is very dangerous”, Marouni said, adding that terrorizing Muslim minorities gives Israel a pretext for racism.
Speaking on electricity plan, Marouni stated that “by linking the adoption of the electricity draft law to the destiny of the current cabinet, the Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun was attempting to win over voters”.
As-Safir daily said that Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahas and the Central bank governor Riad Salameh will participate in the annual meeting held by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington Nahas told the local newspaper that the plenary annual meeting will not address political or financial issues that only concern Lebanon.
Nahas added that the meeting will establish a periodic monetary and economic assessment for high-priority projects implemented by Lebanon and other countries.
The daily added that Salameh will present, before other U.S. bank presidents, Lebanon’s situation, stressing Lebanon’s commitment to the directives given by the Central Bank.
The joint parliamentary committees will resume discussions on Monday pertaining to the urgent electricity draft law. An-Nahar daily reported that the committees’ session will be a decisive one since it is rumored to be headed by Speaker Nabih Berri and may see a vote if the MPs cannot reach a consensus.
Parliamentary sources close to both March 8 and 14 parties foresee a heated debate during the session since each party is clinging to its stances. Sources close to PM Najib Mikati ruled out all remarks confirming the presence of conflicting opinions regarding the electricity plan within the cabinet.
The same sources denied allegations that governmental parties are working behind the scenes to sabotage the bill, adding that the cabinet will fiercely defend the electricity plan that it has adopted.
On the other hand, sources close to Change and Reform bloc told An-Nahar daily, that the other party [March 14] is not calling for introducing modifications to the electricity bill but only seeking clarification.
The sources stressed the necessity of passing the bill with a consensus amongst MPs rather than putting it to a vote.