The minister's crying for more funds

While the cabinet is preparing for tonight's meeting, during which the final draft of the 1998 budget project will be examined, prime minister Rafik Hariri met separately, yesterday, at his residence in Koraytem, with Minister of the Displaced Walid Joumblat and Minister of Health Suleiman Frengieh.

After the meeting, Minister Joumblat stated that the money allocated to his ministry from the budget will not be sufficient to acheive the minitry's goals. The Government was depending on new treasury loans but the decision to cut expenditures and to stay within the budget allocated has put severe strains on the allocation of resources to the different ministries. Joumblat offered proposals, including taxes on Casino revenues and closing down some non-useful embassies abroad. Minister Frengieh, on the other hand, highlighted the needs of his ministry for funds, affirming that the accumulated debts can't be tolerated anymore and the hospitals are in a critical condition. He also stated his objection to increase fuel prices.