State Budget Not on Cabinet Agenda
Once again cabinet meets and avoids any discussion of the 2009 state budget.
In a briefing to the press on Wednesday, Information Minister Tareq Mitri said that the state budget issue could be up for discussion at future cabinet sessions.
The minister also confirmed to reporters the memo of understanding between Lebanon and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that will bring the assassins of ex-premier Rafik Hariri to justice.
Mitiri said that President Michel Suleiman who headed the cabinet meeting asked ministers to speed up the appointment of officials to the constitutional council.
He added that the president would be traveling to Ankara on April 21st and to the United Kingdom on April 28th.
"Prime Minister Saniora asked the ministers to fully commit to holding honest and transparent legislative elections without any intervention of any kind," Mitri said.
He went on to mention that the president proposed the notion of Lebanon”s participation in an international Francophone Force as suggested by La Francophonie head Abdou Diouf during his recent visit to Lebanon.
"The president added that the issue is to be considered for its feasibility," Mitri said.