By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : The Lebanese parliament started this evining a debate on the policy statement adopted by the new national unity government on Saturday.
In the onset of the debate which could last several days Prime Minister Fuad Siniora read the policy statement and asked the MPs to approve it and give confidence to his government.
“The formation of the current government opened a new phase in the history of the democratic system of Lebanon,” Sinora told the legislators.
“There have been in-depth discussions on all economic and social issues of public interest and we were able to reach consensus on most of them as was shown in the policy statement,” he underscored. The government committee on phraseology of the policy statement held 14 meetings over 22 days to iron out the differences between the majority and opposition blocs regarding several items notably the one relating to disarmament of resistance forces (Hezbollah).
The final blueprint of the statement asserts the right of Lebanon’s people, army, government and resistance forces to restore Shibaa Farms, Kafr Shuba hills, and part of Al-Ghajar village from the Israeli occupation forces.
Lebanon has a legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by all legal means, according to the statement.
The incumbent government, made up of 30 ministers, was formed on July 11, as the first government under President Michel Suleiman who was elected on May 25.