Baabda interlocutors laud Aoun's initiative ending political row

The positive atmosphere that prevailed across the country in the wake of President Michel Aoun's contacts with Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Thrusday evening featured high on Baabda Palace talks between Aoun and visitors.

Baabda interlocutors commended the President's initiative to water down the flaring row that had erupted between Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and Speaker Berri. Visitors praised the President's national positions and his constant endeavors to place national interests above any other.

"The situation is back to normal and lessons have been learned from the most recent events. We will pursue our task to build our nation; state institutions remain the best place to resolve issues of dispute," President Aoun told his visitors.

Tashnag Party Leader, Hagop Pakradounian, relayed his political party's satisfaction regarding Aoun's initiative.

"This positive initiative has thwarted strife attempts and has foiled schemes to strike national unity, especially in the shadow of Israeli's daily threats, which are a top priority," Pakradounian said.

"The positions declared by President Nabih Berri are in the same national vein," he added.

In turn, the new president of the Lebanese economic bodies, Mohammed Chocair, said that Aoun's initiative had positively affected the country's economic activity and financial markets and left a positive impression. He also hoped that this initiative would help resolve other political and economic problems.

Head of the Lebanese University, Professor Ayoub, also met with the President and requested an increase in the state's allocation to the Lebanese University budget, especially after the expansion of the university's branches and divisions.

In return, the President noted that the LU professors constituted "the elite that educates Lebanese generations scientifically, nationally, and in many other fields."

As for reducing the budget of the Lebanese University by 20 per cent, the President noted that the financial and economic situation in Lebanon was very crucial.

"We are obliged to reduce the budget deficit for the nation's best interest," Aoun added, explaining that the process of borrowing funds from abroad raises the value of the interest rates and thus increases the deficit.

"Lebanon is in the process of developing an economic plan prior to the impending conferences in support of Lebanon in Paris, Rome and Brussels. We must provide a plan to end the deficit, so we are obliged to reduce the university's budget by 20%," Aoun added.

Moreover, Aoun highlighted the need to encourage students to major in computer science "because Lebanon is about to implement a program to computerize public administrations and build the state on scientific bases. This will allow more jobs for young people and limit their migration abroad."