Economic issues rise again

Economic issues and conflicts rose to the fore again, with several moves and statements by ministers and deputies, yesterday.

Prime Minister Rafik Hariri received ministers Akram Shehayeb and Elie Hobeika to discuss the 1998 budget and ways to finance the new wage scale for public employees. Hobeika said article 9, proposing new taxes, will not be proposed again.

The president of the budget and finance committee, MP Khalil Hrawi, also met with president Elias Hrawi in Baabda to inform him about the committee's attitude regarding the new proposals. He said the discussions concerning the budget should be postponed until political discords are solved and numbers are agreed upon with the prime minister.