No Real Reform Without Administrative Decentralization
President Michel Suleiman said he asked Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to concentrate working on the law of administrative decentralization, as the Taef accords clearly call for adopting it. Suleiman went on to express his belief that reform would have no meaning without administrative decentralization.
During his meeting on Friday with a delegation from Beirut”s municipality, the president said:" What reflects Lebanon”s distinctness is the main role played by elected local authorities that represent all elements of society at cities and in the countryside."
"Real security begins with the municipal policeman in towns, villages and cities," he said.
He received a student delegation and called for expanding the circle of dialogue with young people, to listen to them and help them in establishing an equilibrium between the heart and mind through communicating and accepting the opinion of others, calling this an important process of democracy.
Suleiman later received Speaker Berri at Baabda palace and headed a meeting with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Energy and Water Minister Alain Taborian, Environment Minister Antoine Karam in preparation for his upcoming visit to Jordan next Sunday.
First Lady Wafaa Suleiman joined the president in lighting the Christmas tree at Baabda palace surrounded by palace employees.
The president used the occasion to wish:" peace for Lebanon and the world and good tidings to all."