Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired a Cabinet session at the Grand Serail, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Chami, and the ministers of education and higher education, media, youth and sports, state for administrative development, industry, economy and trade, telecommunications, interior and municipalities, finance, environment, tourism, culture, labor, public works and transport, and agriculture. Also present were the Director General of the Presidency, Antoine Choucair, and the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Mahmoud Makiyeh.
At the beginning of the session, the Prime Minister stated: "How beautiful it is for all Lebanese communities to come together during a single fast, elevating us all to the values of goodness, love, and tolerance. This is Lebanon, and we are all responsible for this civilized image and for reviving the Lebanese formula, ensuring that it is not weakened."
He added: "We are currently witnessing movement from the Moderation Bloc and the Quintet Committee, and while we appreciate the interest of the Quintet Committee, consisting of ambassadors and friends of Lebanon, in ensuring the constitutional entitlement and electing a new president for the republic, I affirm in my name and in the name of the Cabinet the necessity of quickly completing the establishment of the constitutional institutions. The primary and essential responsibility for this entitlement remains with us, the Lebanese, and internal disagreements should not hinder the priority of completing the constitutional institutions by electing a new president for Lebanon."
He continued: "Yesterday, I followed someone discussing the banking restructuring law and other reform laws. He responded that the matter is practically simple but politically complex." He pointed out that "the political crisis negatively affects the required economic and social stability. Our main concern within the government is to maintain the structure of this state and prevent any additional cracks in its foundation until a political agreement is achieved that allows for the necessary reforms. We are ready to carry out the required reforms, but the problem is that there are two political currents in the country, the first wanting the state to collapse completely, while the second possibly seeks to help rebuild the state."
Mikati stated: "Our internal concerns do not distract us from the horrors of the war in Gaza, the Israeli attacks in the south, the falling martyrs, the destruction of towns and homes, the burning of crops, and the displacement of residents. We will continue to work towards agreeing on a truce, stopping the war of destruction and genocide, and allowing the people of the south to return to their towns and villages despite everything happening. We are confident that the truce being worked on in Gaza, despite the high tone of threats from Israel, will encompass the region and we will witness long-term stability."
**Objective Approach to Appointing Customs Inspectors**
When addressing the item concerning the Finance Ministry's request to resolve the dispute within the Higher Customs Council regarding the appointment of successful inspectors from the recruitment exam for the customs authority, Mikati said: "I do not allow transferring the dispute that occurred within the Higher Customs Council to the level of ministers. I also do not allow this matter to be exploited by any party or political current in a populist manner aimed at achieving gains and scoring points."
He continued: "I am committed to addressing this issue out of concern for everyone, for national unity, and to avoid any disputes at any level within the Cabinet, especially since the matter has sectarian backgrounds. I requested further study while affirming the previous Cabinet's decision, and I invite everyone to approach the file objectively, away from any despicable sectarian exploitation."
