Tammam Salam won’t call Cabinet session this week

Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed that he will not call for a Cabinet session this week in order to give mediators time to resolve a crisis over the thorny issue of security appointments that has thrown the government into paralysis.

In an interview with An-Nahar newspaper, the premier said it was not the first time his Cabinet had faced such a situation that threatened to paralyze the government’s work.

“We hope that all political parties will realize the gravity of the situation and will not persist in their attempts to paralyze the executive branch of power,” he said.

Salam stressed the importance of the Cabinet’s productivity amid a sharp political polarization that affects all important issues, such as the approval of pending draft laws in Parliament. He added that international organizations are exerting pressure on Lebanon to approve bills that would finance a number of vital projects in the country.

Amid the yearlong presidential vacuum and the paralysis in the executive and legislative branches of power, Salam pledged to stay in office.

“I will not be negligent in any helping role or stance. I will not abandon the trust in my hand for the sake of paralysis,” Salam said.

Salam praised security forces for confronting “those trying to tamper with the people’s security.” However, he warned that a deterioration of the political situation would reflect negatively on security institutions.

The premier said the security situation in Arsal is under control, adding that the Army has been tasked with taking the measures it deems appropriate. “The Army is ready to confront terror forces. There is a clear decision [for the Army] to fight and confront [these forces],” he said.

The Lebanese Cabinet plunged into paralysis Thursday after it failed to agree on security and military appointments.