Baroud Defends His Position on Electoral Monitoring Committee
In an interview with al-Diyar daily on Monday, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said that the formation of the Election Monitoring Committee to observe the 2009 parliamentary elections was a matter of principle and not a personal issue. Baroud said that the three names he presented had been suggested in the cabinet’s meeting last Saturday and were agreed upon by consensus after each name was discussed.
Baroud said that the interior minister had the privilege to form the committee and suggest the names of possible members, which made the appointment of Amal candidate Atallah Ghacham a violation of the law. Baroud ensured he had nothing against the newly appointed member, adding that the names he suggested included one Sunni, one Shia and an Armenian who were all experts capable of offering help. Baroud said that he was not influenced by sectarian considerations.
Baroud said that he would make all efforts to make the committee’s work a success, adding that its formation was a positive and that its success depended on its ability to form a new electoral law after the 2009 elections ended. Baroud said the committee would hold its first meeting Monday afternoon.
When asked about the security plan during the holidays, Baroud replied, “We started working on the security plans on Sunday, and we sent it to all branches in coordination with the army.” Baroud said that 500 extra Internal Security Forces members would work with the General Directorate to handle traffic, while 1,100 ISF members would work to facilitate people’s transportation during the holidays.