PM Says Cabinet Must Convene after his Return from New York

Prime Minister Tammam Salam said Saturday that the cabinet should convene following his return from New York where he will attend the U.N. General Assembly session.

Following talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, Salam said: “I will represent Lebanon next week at the U.N. General Assembly. Upon my return, the cabinet should convene.”

“The executive authority should not stop (functioning) or not following up (on issues) and confronting a lot of problems,” he stated.

The cabinet is facing paralysis as a result of huge differences between rival parties on its working mechanism in the absence of a president and the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials.

Salam also revealed that strong efforts are being exerted to resolve the waste crisis.

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb's plan that was adopted by the government is making progress, he said.

The cabinet approved the plan last week. But it has faced opposition from residents over their rejection to have landfills in their areas.

The garbage crisis erupted when the Naameh landfill, Lebanon's largest, was closed in mid-July.