Najib Mikati with Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib at the Grand Serail. (Credit: Hoda Chedid/L'Orient Today)
Returning from Iraq, where he held talks with Iraqi officials about oil supply issues, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati answered journalists' questions at the Grand Serail on Monday, without directly addressing the issue.
"The Iraqi government has expressed its willingness to develop bilateral cooperation in all areas," Mikati emphasized. He revealed that the talks would continue at the end of September during meetings of the joint economic committee in Beirut. "This will be an opportunity to revitalize agreements in the areas of transport, agriculture, and trade," he said.
In response to a question about bilateral relations, he praised "Iraq's ongoing support for Lebanon during all its crises, especially the essential oil aid that has helped run our power plants." Iraq has indeed agreed to supply fuel to Lebanon despite its own financial difficulties and payment delays.
"Smooth" Extension of UNIFIL?
The Prime Minister also addressed the appointment of the army's Chief of Staff during the last Cabinet meeting. "The government has made its decision on this matter; only the implementation steps remain," he stated. He called on "all political parties to keep the army away from political disputes." The appointment of Hassan Audi to the position of Chief of Staff was not unanimous, given the refusal of several ministers to make appointments during a presidential vacancy.
Mikati was questioned about the ongoing war in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel. He noted that the situation "remains problematic" but that "diplomatic contacts continue to keep it under control."
"We cannot speak of guarantees because no one can ensure the intentions of the Israeli enemy, but we continue efforts to resolve the issue," he added.
He also discussed the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), assuring that "contacts are ongoing for a smooth extension." Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, who met with Mikati on Monday following his recent trip to the United States, mentioned a "near-agreement on the extension under the same conditions."
UNIFIL's mandate is renewed annually, and each time the issue of whether the U.N. force's prerogatives should be expanded or remain the same is brought up again.
