New Lebanese government convenes its first meeting

The new Lebanese government on Friday held its first meeting, chaired by the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud and attended by the Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

The Lebanese President expressed hope that the new government will fulfill the Lebanese people's hopes. He said that the coming requirements are great, especially completing the march of liberating south Lebanon from the Israeli occupation and the struggle for liberating the Lebanese detainees and prisoners in the Israeli jails, to complete the development of the liberated areas, achieve and protect the national reconciliation march.

He added we have repeatedly called for dealing with the situation in the region through the work to achieve a just and comprehensive peace providing for liberating the occupied Arab lands in the Golan and Palestine and ensures the return back of the Palestinians to their lands.

Lahoud called on all the Lebanese people to commit to their new government, stressing that national solidarity will enable Lebanon to restore back its past times.

Al-Hariri expressed thanks to Lahoud for his confidence, noting that " the government which the Lebanese aspire to salvage from the conditions they suffer should be a one work team and to include cadres of high efficiency as well as to represent the main political trends."

Meantime, the Lebanese minister of information Ghazi al- Aridid said that this session was dedicated to draw the main headlines for the ministerial statement on the ground of which the new confidence will win confidence from the Parliament.