Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed his concern over "waves of Syrian displacement through illegal channels," noting that "what is alarming is that the majority of the new displaced are young people." He indicated that "we will hold a special session next week to discuss the situation at Beirut Airport and the opening of Qulayaat Airport," emphasizing the priority of accelerating the election of a president for the republic.
Mikati's remarks came during his chairing of a session of the Council of Ministers at the Grand Serail, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Shami, and ministers including: Media Minister Ziad Makari, Youth and Sports Minister George Kallas, Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, Administrative Development Minister Najla Riachi, Industry Minister George Bouchikian, Communications Minister Johnny Qarm, Interior and Municipalities Minister Judge Bassam Mawlawi, Health Minister Firas Al-Abiad, Tourism Minister Walid Nassar, Environment Minister Nasser Yassin, Culture Minister Judge Mohamed Wissam Mortada, Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram, Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamieh, and Displaced Persons Minister Issam Sharafeddine, along with Director General of the Presidency of the Republic Dr. Antoine Chuqair and Secretary General of the Council of Ministers Judge Mahmoud Makki.
Mikati opened the session by saying: "We are just days away from September 10, the date the government, 'Together for Rescue,' was formed. As we approach the third year of the government's existence, we all hope that constitutional institutions will be completed, and a president for the republic will be elected, because Lebanon's formula and entity will only achieve political justice through the integration of its national components."
He continued: "On this occasion, I salute you all, as you bear responsibilities with merit and fulfill your duties towards the nation, ensuring the continuity of service." He reaffirmed, "We are managing affairs and not acting on behalf of the nation. We take responsibility without usurping authority, and we do not want to be a substitute for anyone. Bearing responsibility is not an easy matter, and everyone witnesses that we are resisting and striving as much as possible to overcome this difficult phase."
Mikati emphasized on behalf of himself and the government the priority of expediting the election of a president for the republic. He also expressed support for calling for parliamentary dialogue and encouraging political forces to meet for consultation and serious discussion aimed at hastening the election of a president. He thanked Arab brethren, the quintet committee, and friendly countries for their constant efforts to help Lebanon overcome its political and economic crises.
He added: "There are very difficult economic and social files, the most important of which are the runaway prices of goods, materials, and services, university and school tuition, medical bills, insurance costs, and basic necessities." He pointed out that "the government is responsible for economic, health, and food security, and I call on ministries and relevant authorities to monitor prices and protect citizens from the dangers of greed, imposing penalties on violators who exploit people and deplete their resources."
Mikati stated: "With the start of the school year, we are following parents' cries regarding the high tuition in schools and their obligation to pay in dollars at varying rates with no clear standards. I have communicated with the Minister of Education, who is absent from today's session, to request a stricter approach in this regard, obligating private schools to consider the current economic situation when raising tuition. Additionally, there is a proposal to increase fees in public schools and the Lebanese University, which will be presented to us during the discussion of the draft budget law, with the aim of reducing burdens on parents and enabling them to send their children to public schools and the Lebanese University."
He noted that "what concerns us is the new influx of waves of Syrian displacement through illegal paths. What is alarming is that the majority of the new displaced are young people. The army and security forces are striving, thank them, to prevent these unjustified waves of displacement, which threaten our entity's independence and impose a severe imbalance that intentionally or unintentionally undermines the Lebanese reality."
He continued: "We will study this file in today's session to determine the necessary steps, including holding a special session of the Council of Ministers next week with the participation of the army chief and security leaders, because responsibility is collective and requires everyone's cooperation."
He concluded by stating: "Based on the proposal of Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh, we will hold a special session next week to discuss the situation at Beirut Airport and the opening of Qulayaat Airport."
### Session Resolutions
At the end of the session, Media Minister Ziad Makari announced the resolutions:
- Presentation by the Deputy Prime Minister of the report submitted by the committee studying the topic of government building rental fees for the state, created under Decision No. 58/2023 dated May 8, 2023.
- The Minister of Displaced Persons presented some issues related to border control and combating the illegal infiltration of Syrian displaced persons, with agreement to set a special session for this purpose.
- The Ministry of Energy and Water requested approval to renew the agreement between the Iraqi and Lebanese sides to supply the Lebanese Republic with an additional quantity of heavy oil amounting to (1.5) million metric tons according to the previously established mechanism to be exchanged with gas oil and/or fuel oil of types (A) and (B) for the benefit of Electricité du Liban. It was decided that the Ministry of Communications would receive a quantity of 20,000 tons annually.
- A request to approve the appointment of customs guards in the customs control unit to regularize their status in accordance with State Council Decision No. 457/2022 - 2023.
- A request from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to approve filling vacant positions in the Air Navigation Authority from the successful candidates in the competition announced under Council of Ministers Decision No. 4 dated October 6, 2016, with results announced on August 22, 2017, and approved by the Civil Service Council under Decision No. 269 on March 27, 2018.
- A draft decree aiming to set the minimum temporary compensation for retirees in all sectors benefiting from a pension as stipulated in paragraph (3) of Article One of Decree No. 11227 dated April 18, 2023 (granting temporary compensation to all employees in the public sector and retirees benefiting from a pension).
- The Ministry of Finance presented a mechanism for repaying amounts owed to the company committed to refunding the value-added tax for the tourist.
- The Ministry of Finance presented the topic of adopting the Bloomberg platform for trading and financial markets.
- The Council of Ministers did not approve the Ministry of Finance's request for permission to grant taxpayers a reduction of fines within legally determined limits. (Deferred from the session of August 17, 2023).
The Council of Ministers also approved 91 decrees for the restoration of Lebanese citizenship under the "Law of Citizenship Restoration."
