The Lebanese Cabinet, chaired by President Emile Lahoud, in the presence of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, decided at a meeting on Monday to create a ministerial committee to discuss exemptions from an urban master plan, and postponed approval of purchasing land for construction projects.
Absent from the session were Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares and Ministers Jean Obeid and Karam Karam. Among other decisions, Cabinet:
- Endorsed agreements and protocols between Lebanon and other countries.
- Approved a request by the Central Fund for the Displaced to vacate plots of land in Ras Beirut and near the Movenpick Hotel in Beirut.
- Endorsed a Public Works and Transportation Ministry request to tender rehabilitation of the Dawra-Antelias and Tabarja highway.
- Tasked the Public Works and Transportation Minister with signing a marine transportation agreement with Cuba.
- Agreed to open an office representing the International Maritime Organization in Lebanon.
- Approved a German government grant to the Agriculture Ministry in the framework of agreements that have been signed between both governments.