Cabinet Signs Decrees after Resolving Bassil-Harb Dispute

The cabinet approved Thursday a number of stalled decrees after resolving a dispute between Telecom Minister Butros Harb and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.

Decrees during this period require the signatures of all ministers since the government is acting in the absence of a president and has assumed presidential powers.

“The cabinet confirmed that the decree on revising and slashing internet fees is still in effect, asking the telecom minister to turn his suggestions to improve the sector into a draft decree that would be submitted to the cabinet for legalization,” Information Minister Ramzi Jreij announced after the cabinet session.

The dispute had erupted after Bassil refrained from signing a decree linked to the telecommunications ministry, which prompted Harb to retaliate by refusing to ink decrees linked to ministries run by the ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement.

The crisis was resolved following a mediation by Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi, State Minister for Parliament Affairs Mohammed Fneish and Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, according to LBCI TV.

Separately, the cabinet decided to "hold a session soon to discuss the issue of Syrian refugees in light of the report that will be submitted by the specialized ministerial panel," said Jreij.

During the session, “Bassil briefed the cabinet on the Jeddah and Paris meetings and the decisions taken there regarding the Lebanese state. He also explained that Lebanon is keen to support the international campaign against terrorism and to dissociate itself from the policies of axes,” Jreij added.

The cabinet also approved a request by the Higher Relief Committee on paying compensations to those affected by the Tripoli clashes from 2011 until 2013.

Meanwhile, OTV said the cabinet agreed to “carve out a new road linking Roumieh to Beit Mery.”

According to As Safir newspaper, the FPM had threatened to abstain from signing all decrees if Harb does not ink decrees that are linked to ministries run by the movement.

Sources told the newspaper that Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, who is affiliated with the FPM, had informed the cabinet that the movement's ministers will refrain from signing any new decrees if Harb does not ink those that have been frozen for around a month.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam gave the ministers until this week to resolve the dispute, which had threatened to paralyze the work of the government.

In July, the cabinet approved a mechanism that governs its work following vacuum at Baabda Palace in May. It agreed that all decisions should be based on consensus among ministers representing different political parties.

The agreement also includes a deal to distribute the agenda to ministers 96 hours ahead of the session's scheduled time.

Y.R.