Latest news with #Morkos
Nahar Net
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Cabinet approves appointments of army commander, security chiefs
by Naharnet Newsdesk 13 March 2025, 13:18 The Cabinet on Thursday approved the appointment of Brig. Gen. Rudolph Haykal as army chief, Brig. Gen. Hassan Shqeir as General Security head, Brig. Gen. Raed Abdallah as Internal Security Forces chief and Brig. Gen. Edgard Lawandos as State Security head. 'The army and security appointments were according to expertise and competency, and we're working in Cabinet with accuracy and strong keenness on standards and competency,' Information Minister Paul Morkos said after a Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet also approved the recruitment of 4,500 army soldiers in three batches, Morkos added. Moreover, he said that Cabinet will hold a special session on Monday to discuss a mechanism for administrative appointments. 'A draft law has been prepared to lower fees in the 2025 state budget,' he added. 'President Joseph Aoun clarified during the session that the International Monetary Fund delegation has stressed the need to appoint a central bank governor and the appoint the banking secrecy law, which needs extra amendments, and the banks restructuring law,' Morkos said. Aoun also said that Lebanese authorities are following up on the developments in Syria and that security agencies maintain high readiness to deal with any related emergency.
Nahar Net
06-03-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Govt. launches reform plan, stresses need to implement Taif accord
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 March 2025, 15:07 Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Thursday after a cabinet session that the government has 'launched a comprehensive reform plan based on the ministerial statement.' 'We've stressed the need to continue the Taif Agreement's reform clauses,' Salam added. 'We have issued the 2025 state budget in a decree and tasked the finance minister to prepare a draft law to reconsider the fees mentioned in the budget to avoid their social and economic impact on citizens. We will also begin working on the 2026 budget,' the premier said. 'We have agreed with the ministers on devising detailed lists with the needed reformist steps at every ministry and to set a timeframe for implementing them,' Salam went on to say. Moreover, he said that 'it has been agreed to adopt a transparent mechanism regarding the file of appointments,' revealing that 'it has been decided to return to holding cabinet sessions at a dedicated place as per the Taif Agreement,' noting that 'the location will be announced next week.' Information Minister Paul Morkos for his part said that President Joseph Aoun briefed Cabinet on the outcome of his visit to Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that 'there is Saudi willingness to help should Lebanon carry out the reforms.' 'President Aoun pointed out that there will be a second expected visit to Saudi Arabia after Eid al-Fitr in which several ministers will take part,' Morkos added. He also announced that Cabinet approved a draft law to exempt those affected by Israel's latest war from some taxes and fees. 'There is no specific date for the file of appointments and Cabinet has not interfered in names,' Morkos added.
