Your excellency, honorable members of Parliament:

Our government takes office today against the backdrop of the most important national achievement in the history of Lebanon: The victory of the resistance, the resistance of all the Lebanese, over the aggression and Israeli occupation which forced the enemy to retreat and admit to defeat. With this new beginning, the government salutes the resistance, steadfastness, and tolerance of the Lebanese people, especially our kin in the South and the Western Bekaa for the sufferings and sacrifices they have endured for two consecutive decades.

We pledge that our government will offer special care to these regions and compensate for the development and economic opportunities that were missed because of the occupation, in addition to the losses it inflicted. On the international level, we will pursue with the international community and world organizations our petition for war reparations to be paid by the government of Israel. One of the main aims of the government is to protect the achievement of the resistance and capitalize on it at all levels.

This government regards the Israeli policy of perpetual aggression ? the continued occupation of the Shebaa Farms and the detention of Lebanese detainees; the occupation of the Golan; the rejection of the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of return, while exercising the ugliest forms of torture against them ? to have led to the current escalation, which left the region open to all possibilities.

This is why our government wants to emphasize that our endeavors are based on a deep conviction that our victory in the South is a victory for all Arabs and the fruit of the joint Lebanese-Syrian steadfastness and struggle, reflecting a unity in positions, destiny, and partnership in confronting Israel's assaults on Lebanon and their repercussions. Our government will strive in the current phase to translate into practice the principle of unity of tracks and destiny that binds Lebanon and Syria together, while upholding the independence and sovereignty of two countries. This principle provides a basic and strong impetus that will support Lebanon's quest to complete the liberation of its land and prisoners, and realistically reject the settlement of Palestinian refugees, upholding their right to return to their homeland. This will also help strengthen the Arab stand in general and develop joint Arab action to confront Israel, taking into account the heroic uprising of the Palestinian people and the Arab demand that the peace process results in the implementation of international resolutions and international law, and not bowing to Israeli conditions. This is a stand that will not be compromised by the pressures of Israeli threats. Lebanon was the beacon of resistance, and it can be a catalyst in the effort to establish a durable, just, and comprehensive peace, based on the liberation of its soil and the Golan, and the recovery of the Palestinian people's rights in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Lebanon will continue to strive for peace on the basis of its national principles, irrespective of Israel's intransigent stands and irrespective of the prospects of peace which seem dim these days.

This country, which is small in size, yet whose sacrifices have been enormous, realizes how occupation can be confronted with resistance. It also realizes how it can persistently contribute to the establishment of a just and durable peace in the region, a peace that remains the strategic end to which we work in cooperation with our Arab brethren and our friends in the world.

But our government, which looks forward to the day when such a peace will dawn on our country and the region, will not wait for these remedies. It will take the initiative in introducing political, administrative, economic, financial, and social reforms, which are necessary to revive the economic cycle, to gradually rise from the social crisis and put our own house in order. It will begin from now to realize these aims and, should the hour of peace come, Lebanon will be capable to enter that era, healthy and capable of confronting the challenges and reaping its fruit. Should the wait be long, we would have provided the needed protection for the country and its people.

The formation of this government followed parliamentary elections, during which the Lebanese people expressed their aspirations and ambitions. We will heed this, convinced of the need to buttress public freedoms, widen popular participation in public life, improve democratic practices, and work on remedying the causes of the economic and social woes of the Lebanese. We will look toward a better future for our country, which its citizens deserve.

According to our values, the future means fortifying our national principles, based on sovereignty, independence, and democracy, and encouraging all forms of dialogue and interaction among the people of this homeland. It is an active and productive modernization, without a denial of our heritage. It is a firm commitment to the course of modernizing legislation and institutions so we may cope with changing times and place our country in the position that it deserves in the region and the world at large. This will be based on the adherence to the principles of a democratic system that creates harmony between the will of the people and the need to protect state institutions, identifying the interest of the public in legislation and structure.

We aspire to an honest judiciary and an effective administration, coupled with a unwavering fusion of the ambitions of the civil society and the policies of the state. This will strengthen the political stability in the country, realize balanced development in all regions, and instill confidence among the Lebanese. Our government aims to reinforce the citizen's confidence in the state and in the political system, hoping to achieve those goals through the following principles:

1. National accord and the return of the displaced

Our government, which stands before your esteemed assembly today, is dedicated to strengthening confidence in the state. As such, it aspires to be the government that consolidates national accord and strengthens growth.

In the last 10 years, Lebanon entered a new era, an era of social and political reconstruction on the basis of the National Accord Pact and the new Constitution it produced. However, over these past years, the political scene was marred by a number of discussions that created polarization and debate, especially over issues linked to the Constitution, the separation of state institutions, political and developmental balance, and election laws. These are issues that will naturally arise in a liberal democratic system such as Lebanon's, which has become a valued pillar of its tradition. Lebanon's democratic system is one that upholds a wide popular participation. Our government insists on tackling the issues that are at the core of national accord and reconciliation in accordance with the Constitution and the constitutional institutions through dialogue initiatives. This will culminate in solutions, based on national consensus and the protection of freedoms and institutions, as well as balance. These are values and institutions that have upheld Lebanon's stability and prosperity.

In this context, our government pledges to give top priority to the issue of the displaced, buttressing the reconciliation that has already taken place, and completing what is in the pipeline; removing bureaucratic obstacles to this end and securing adequate and just compensation for those eligible. This can be achieved through the credit line your House has already endorsed and, also, by creating a suitable atmosphere for an effective, sustainable, and productive return. This can be guaranteed by the concerned ministry, in cooperation with other ministries with important specialized links to the issue, and whose existence will no longer be required once this mission is completed.

The experience of the last decade has taught us that the Lebanese people are capable of confronting the problems, irrespective of their enormity, in a dedication to coexistence and accord. Our representative and Constitutional institutions are capable of finding the appropriate solutions and facing and developing the challenge of such a will in a manner that safeguards our society, its solidarity, and the interests of all its components, if we are true representatives of this will.

2. The rule of law and protection of citizens

The Lebanese experience has proved that government performance cannot be corrected if the rights and freedoms of citizens are not guaranteed by institutions, adhering to the law and respecting it. This is why the government will give priority to establishing a state where rulers and citizens will be answerable, in their conduct and actions, to clear regulations in accordance with the law, while accommodating and respecting the basic principles of human rights. The first articles of the Lebanese Constitution are devoted to the rights of citizens, guaranteeing the personal freedom of individuals, and prohibiting the arrest, imprisonment, or detention of anyone except in accordance with the law.

The government will endeavor to ensure the effective application of this constitutional principle through organizing the judiciary and developing the work of the judicial police. It will present to your assembly a draft legislation that will clearly outline the cases where a judge will be allowed to resort to protective custody. It will set a timeframe for the length of such det-ention, taking into account the requirements of the interrogation into a crime on the one hand, and the protection of the rights of citizens and their freedoms and dignity, on the other. This is based on the principle that any measure that denies freedoms is an exception to rule, which regards an individual innocent until proven guilty, a guideline that will allow a detainee in protective custody the right of compensation when a trial is denied.

Out of firm belief in the importance of the judiciary in the rule of law, the government will focus its attention on upholding this authority's independence. As such, there is no escape from having to reconsider some of the applied laws to guarantee more judicial independence, impose harsher punishment for the interference in the work of a judge, and widen the prerogatives of the judiciary's Central Inspection department so it can eliminate irregularities.

3. Media and freedom: a special role for lebanon

Freedom and democracy are the basic pillars of our political system and the characteristics of Lebanon's existence. They have to be safeguarded, developed, and practiced. Out of this conviction, our government will be the guarantor of media freedoms, and the sponsor of a national democratic dialogue among all the Lebanese.

The media industry, especially the audio-visual sector, has significantly developed. It continues to develop as a result of the revolution in information technology. We must remain abreast and aware of the evolution of systems and laws. In this context, the government will seek to bolster the official and private media to play its role on the local and international scene through satellite transmission, which promotes Lebanon's image as a haven for freedom, dialogue, and diversity, as well as a culture interacting with all cultures, a civilization open to all civilizations, and an example of steadfastness and liberation.

In addition to the media sector, there is the important and sophisticated advertising industry, which has taken great strides in growth, attracting large numbers of the Lebanese youth, while expanding its framework with the spread of cyber-information through various outlets. Satellite transmission, public relations, and advertising have taken important and big steps to expand Lebanon's role in this growing regional and international market. Therefore, it is natural for us to focus on this sector and encourage further steps to ensure its success, giving it a wide margin of maneuverability and avoiding any action that could harm or restrict its freedom, its rapid growth, and its increasing share in the Arab and international markets.

This sector has become a principal component of advanced national industry, attracting creative and production experts with high expertise and qualifications who have occupied senior posts in the world at large. The previous government had proposed the creation of a media zone, a pioneer proposal with regard to its concept and goals that is beneficial to Lebanon's economic activity as it moves into the 21st century. This government, however, will retrieve the draft to make some amendments so it can better serve its purpose, taking into account similar experiences by other countries in this regard.

4. Attention to youth

Our firm conviction in the role of youth has led us to introduce a special portfolio for this purpose. Our government will strive to firmly support this ministry so it can attract the youth of Lebanon and undertake the initiatives necessary to buttress dialogue, instill a unifying patriotic spirit, and allow the country to benefit from their potential and expertise. This will create an appropriate atmosphere for their active participation in drafting national decisions and charting the course of the future, which is the center of civil society and the prerequisite for progress and a better future. It is their right and duty to participate in public life, and it is our responsibility, Cabinet and Parliament, to give their causes due attention and to prepare them for an era of knowledge armed with unwavering confidence. We must endorse the legislation necessary to achieve these goals.

Lebanese youth, in light of the stifling socio-economic crisis which Lebanon is experiencing, are confronted with the problem of unemployment leading to a dangerous trend of immigration in search of employment markets abroad, and depriving the nation of high qualifications and modern expertise. The government will seek to invigorate the economy and its growth to create job opportunities for the youth and to allow Lebanon to benefit from the potential of its youth. Many Lebanese are drawn to sports and closely follow the events, especially a large number of our youth. Sports have developed on all levels and have often contributed to displaying a bright image of the country through the achievements of Lebanese teams in various games on the local, regional, and international levels. Our government will give this sector the necessary attention to facilitate its development and create an appropriate atmosphere for its modernization and for encouraging initiatives that would strengthen its presence and activate the associations, unions, and authorities dealing with this sector.

5. The role of women

Our government is convinced that the Lebanese woman can play an important and principal role in the development of society. As such, it will seek to encourage her presence in the public domain and her active participation in the economy through:

a. providing her with equal employment opportunities in all public and private sectors and

b. protecting her rights under laws and legislation that enable her to fulfill her duties at the best possible level

6. Strengthening the role of civil society

Our government stresses its desire to vitalize the role of civil society and non-governmental organizations so their resources and capabilities may complement the government's in buil-ding a strong and healthy homeland.

7. Culture

Culture is Lebanon's No. 1 capital. Our aim is to push the country into a more active role in this sector, which is one of the fastest-growing sectors due to the free flow of information and the large invest in human resources. We shall draw on the experiences of the Lebanese diaspora in this regard.

On the cultural front, our government will strive for a modern law for restructuring the concerned ministry, and for rehabilitating the historic sites of which Lebanon is proud. We will encourage cultural tourism and work to turn the summit of Francophone countries, which will convene here in about one year, into a noticeable international event which will strengthen Lebanon's political, economic, and cultural relations with more than 50 countries. Local skills and talents can turn Lebanon into the shining star of the Arab culture to which it belongs, and to which it has made significant qualitative contributions.

Our government will encourage artistic and intellectual talents in painting, sculpture, theater, and music, as well as in the publication and export of books and television production so Lebanon may recover its place at the center of modern Arab culture. Intellectual freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution and it is the duty of our government to help our writers and artists to expand in the region, and in the world at large, as this will have a great impact on Lebanon's image abroad and also on the national economy.

The country is experiencing a social and economic crisis that was caused by a decline in growth and the spread of recession. It is grappling with an increase in unemployment figures and straining under the weight of fiscal deficit and an increase in public debt.

Previous experiences have proved that it will be difficult to reduce public spending, which largely goes toward servicing the public debt or paying the salaries of government employees. This reality, however, must not discourage us from devising a long-term plan that would streamline and reduce spending where possible. As such, the government will limit any increases in spending to the sectors that can contribute to reactivating the economic cycle, provide an impetus for growth and sustaining social services. Based on this, it is imperative to shore up the fiscal deficit through activating the economy, achieving sustainable growth, and enhance revenue collection. Combined, this would increase the Treasury's revenue, and gradually reduce the budget deficit.

Having said that, we believe that policies based on growth are the most successful to remedy the deficit problem. Economic growth allows the government to levy a larger share of national income on behalf of the Treasury, without affecting the income of citizens, and without having to increase taxes and fees.

The government will adopt a number of policies, draft laws, and measures which will provide incentives for the private sector and contribute to the national economy's sustainable growth. These include:

a. preparing new draft laws that will further a better investment climate

b. launching projects that have been frozen or slowed down for which financing has been secured through soft loans

c. working toward bolstering confidence in Lebanon and its economic future, including marketing Lebanese commodities and services locally and abroad through our foreign commercial partners

d. adopting policies that would further open up the Lebanese economy, including the policy of open skies, facilitating entry permits, and reducing customs barriers and other obstacles

e. simplifying bureaucratic red tape to quicken formalities and avoid administrative routine

f. working toward concluding more agreements with the Arab and European economic blocs and the World Trade Organization

g. improving the collection of revenue owed to the Treasury

h. endorsing the principle of privatizing projects and facilities, whose sale to the private sector will benefit both citizens and the national economy, and use the raised capital to reduce the public debt

i. reinforcing the basic principles of the Lebanese economy, upholding legislative stability, and respecting the state's obligations, commitments, and pledges and

j. rewarding and granting exemptions to institutions recognized for quality production by concerned international authorities such as the ISO.

The greatest challenge facing Lebanon in the future is the revitalization of its free economy so it can regain its competitiveness. This aims at developing the potential, capabilities, and productivity of the Lebanese in line with the guidelines of the modern economy to secure job opportunities for citizens and improve living conditions through comprehensive and balanced development.

Citizens expect us to confront all these challenges, and some of them exaggerate to the point of counting on this under the strain of the difficult social and economic conditions. They are counting on magical solutions that would change the economic and social conditions. Because we do not wish to give the Lebanese public, or your esteemed House, any rosy promises, we have opted to commit ourselves to work on confronting the crisis as much as possible on the following bases:

1. Protecting the financial and monetary stability, which in recent years proved to be the basis of social and economic stability.

2. Pursuing the reconstruction drive and economic revival to provide growth incentive within the means that are available to the state, and counting on the confidence in the enormous potentials of the Lebanese people and the funds available through agreements signed with international institutions and friendly countries.

3. Privatization: We regard privatization one of the policies to which we are committed to provide an incentive for growth. Its economic benefits lie in a more effective administration, and lower costs at the utilities that would be privatized. It also frees initiatives on a wide scale, building on the experiences world-wide over the past two decades. Many lessons can be drawn from these experiences. Successful privatization is the one that takes into account the type of sector that will be privatized, and devises the best way to do it. Privatization has proved to be successful where competition was possible, such as direct sale to strategic investors within conditions set by the government, or direct sale to the public, where certain facilities are turned into share-holding companies in which the private sector contributes in different proportions. There is also the privatization on concession basis where monopoly exists, or the BOT and similar methods of the new economy that require large investments to which Lebanese, residents, and emigrants, could contribute in a manner that would avoid monopoly or hegemony. This can be done through an effective mechanism that would monitor the facilities that are privatized.

4. Supporting the private sector and encouraging it to work and expand to create new employment opportunities. Facilitating investment by building on the competitive characteristics of the Lebanese economy, which encourages individual initiatives, by providing the legal cover for property rights, and by enforcing the stability of legislative and tax policies. The government will strive to regulate the tax and customs policies and to create the appropriate legal and administrative climate to lure investment into the various productive sectors. We will work toward joining the Mediterranean-European Partnership Agreement and the World Trade Organization. We also plan to forge bilateral or group agreements with Arab countries, and free or industrial zones. We will provide backing for medium and small businesses, developing industries and modern economic and technological projects for the youth.

5. We will address the chronic problem of the administration. We will work to regulate it, simplify it, reduce its size, and modernize it. We will work to improve its productivity through developing its systems and activating the tools of administrative reform, the supervisory bodies and the research and guidance centers, and facilitate their cooperation. The success of any government program depends on the existence of a modern and developed administration, with skillful personnel and high efficiency. These can be achieved through specialized and continuous training programs that take into account the rapid developments of this era.

This administration must realize that the sole purpose of its existence is to serve the citizens and the needs of economic development. It has to remain always open to development and modernization to improve efficiency and skills. It has to accept constructive criticism and be accountable on the basis of productivity, skills, and the level and quality of performance. Past experiences proves that creating such an administration requires a clear plan, constant work, and a lot of time. This is linked to the consent and contribution of all the political forces and their cooperation to achieve this goal.

This is why our government will work to propose laws, which we hope your esteemed House will look into and endorse. These will include:

a. amending the laws that govern public accountability so procedures can be simplified and accountability can be based on performance

b. amending the guidelines of posting tenders to simplify the procedures and make them more compatible with those applied in the majority of countries. This will improve the supervision of the procedure, the conditions, and the results

c. amending the laws that govern trade to encourage local and foreign investment so that this law may incorporate new technologies and methods, including e-commerce. This will improve Lebanon's standing in international trade exchanges

d. modernizing municipal laws and strengthening the prerogatives of local governments to empower citizens to share in the decision-making process on local and national levels

e. amending the customs law to allow its administration to offer modern, prompt, and efficient services. This will create market activity, reduce the costs of goods and services, and improve the private sector's competitive edge

f. devising a modern transit law that encourages such activity

g. amending some construction laws to simplify them and encourage investors in this vital sector

h. changing the laws governing Social Security to reduce its cost, define its duties, and regulate its administration. This would reduce employment costs and will also help create new job opportunities without reducing the benefits employees enjoy

i. introducing a rent law to regulate and officiate relations between landlords and tenants

j. regulating and activating public hospitalization. Previous governments had put forward plans for modernizing and creating new hospitals and creating health centers. This plan is near completion. We must focus on ways to operate these centers efficiently. Healthcare is always a basic demand, but in social and economic conditions like ours, this becomes even more urgent. Therefore, it is imperative that we focus our efforts on providing health services to citizens in an effective way that will also help reduce the government's health bill. The health and hospitalization bill increased dramatically in recent years and was not matched by the quality of coverage for citizens or preventive care. This requires urgent consideration. This is why we see a need for an urgent and daring decision that would remove the health sector from the circle of polarization and provide a pragmatic solution. This will require that the Health Ministry be placed directly in charge of healthcare and planning for the future, and to secure the tools and means to provide better cover for citizens through the professional and efficient use of the material human resources available and

k. improving Lebanon's competitive edge in information technology can be achieved through a reconsideration of existing legislation ? developing it to meet international standards ? and through modernizing the communication and information infrastructure, while reconsidering its costs. This is in addition to renewing the commitment to the protection of intellectual property rights to invite workers with advanced skills to the country and use them as a launching pad for other markets in the region.

6. Agriculture and agricultural industry: Even though a considerable number of Lebanese citizens are active in the field of agriculture, the contribution of this sector to the gross domestic product continues to decline. There are three causes for this: the scarce investments in modernizing the agriculture and diversifying crops, the absence of competitive opportunities for Lebanese produce, and rare investment in food production. The government plans to work on solving the problem of irrigation. It plans to encourage agricultural industries as in any other sector and to enlist Arab economic cooperation in finding existing and new markets for Lebanese produce. This will be in cooperation with sisterly Syria to build on expertise in certain agricultural products that would benefit the two countries. The government also plans to activate agriculture extension, identify alternative crops, and encourage high-yield crops. The government will work on allocating the necessary funds to support agricultural exports.

Lebanon's water resources are an important component of national wealth. This has to be developed and protected through a productive strategy through:

a. protecting underground aquifers and shielding them from pollution

b. undertaking projects for better use of water such as dams and artificial lakes and completing the Litani River project. These projects will be implemented through the best possible means, financed by financial protocols with friendly institutions and countries

c. creating a modern administrative authority to better utilize water resources and supervise its use in cooperation with the Environment Ministry and

d. devise a plan for expanding and modernizing the water network in cooperation with the private sector to provide supplies to all the Lebanese regions.

7. Housing policy: We shall support the government's housing policy and push forward the law governing the work of the public institutions of housing as well as expand its authority to cover new segments of the society with limited income. The government also will expand the scope of cooperation among the public institutions of housing, private banks, and the National Social Security Fund to enforce long-term policies for the medium- and low-income classes.

8. Education: Education, in its various forms and at all levels, is an urgent national priority. There is a social dimension that deals with its costs, and there is the political aspect that deals with equal opportunity. There is also the democratic aspect of education and the aspect related to the nation's future ? a comprehensive and sustainable development that depends on the standards of education and the society's ability to adapt to the changes of the era so it will be well-placed to contribute, ably and skillfully, to the future. The government will give due attention to public schooling so it becomes, and in all regions, capable of absorbing our sons and daughters, who now make up nearly 50 percent of the student body.

The government intends to reconsider the geographic map of public schooling and concentrate on expanding capacity at certain levels. It intends to probe the application of the new curricula, the extent of their absorption, and correct and develop them where necessary. We need to study the educational structure, address the problems of teachers in terms of training, and raise the level of encouragement and supervision.

The government will turn special attention to vocational education and strive to implement a plan for setting up technical and vocational academies and intermediate- and high-level technological institutions, and improve their programs. This plan should correspond to the needs of the employment market in quality and quantity.

As for the Lebanese University, this institution to which we owe our present and which will build the future of Lebanon, it currently accommodates about 60 percent of university students and is facing the same problems that other educational institutions are suffering. This is why our government intends to give this praiseworthy institution the utmost care and create, in cooperation with the university's board and the Education Ministry, a new law that will contribute to raising its standards on the level of administration, faculty, and students.

The government also is intent on completing its campus, whose construction has been delayed for too long. The government will remain committed to the academic and administrative independence of the university. It will provide it with all means of support to uphold its prestige and academic standards, through modern laboratories, libraries, and research centers, so it can meet the hopes pinned to it in present-day Lebanon and in the future.

9. The government will begin with necessary projects and make use of funds allocated for Lebanon, whether by international organizations, world funds, or with friendly and sisterly states. This requires a high degree of openness toward the institutions and countries, whether Arab or foreign, which have helped Lebanon and could help it in the future. There are agreements and pacts that have not been implemented, or we have not benefited from. There are opportunities to attract attention to our country, and to its potentials and its rights. Lebanon has strong credibility among its diaspora community, among its Arab brethren and among regional and international countries and institutions. This is why we will invite the donor countries to shoulder their responsibilities toward Lebanon.

10. Environment: The environment is one of the priorities of this government. International development has proved that correct environmental decisions are also economically correct, that is when the standard is the life of people and the well-being of the future generations, not the temporary interests of an individual.

We call for an environmental state of emergency in Lebanon, for an immediate stop to the environmental destruction, and for a clear environmental policy with a set timetable. This is a vital component of any effort to solve problems, such as air and water pollution, and the chaos in the use of land and organizing industries. It is imperative to set up a national scientific institution for the environment, which will delve into research and studies and set the appropriate guidelines. This would provide credible national environmental policies, instead of having to react to developments, providing band-aid treatments, whose impact, at best, would delay the problem or move it from one place to another. Cooperation between the Environment Ministry and other ministries is crucial for providing permanent solutions to the issues of rock and sand quarries.

Implementing a comprehensive awareness plan will expose our future generations to basic principles that are incorporated into the programs of the media, schools, and civil society.

The aspired-for environmental policy must not be restricted to punishment in order to deter offenders. It must be the cornerstone for any modern policy that will encourage individuals and institutions to take measures to protect the environment. We must provide these with financial support and tax exemptions, and impose taxes and penalties on the polluters.

We must all, citizens and leaders in politics, in the intellectual world, in industry, and trade, work together to provide a healthy environment for the future generations.

11. Public works and transport: The government is intent on putting in place a new policy for road maintenance, taking into consideration the possibility of having to privatize some of these projects. We can benefit from the credits to improve efficiency at lower costs, and this will be based on a geographic information system that would define the needs of maintenance, identify its benefits, and set up a priority system.

As for urban planning, the government will work on a general plan for organizing Lebanese territories. This will support balanced development, while protecting natural wealth on the levels of agriculture, forestation, and archaeology. Also, there will be expanded work on the zoning efforts to determine land ownership.

As for transport, the government will devise a comprehensive policy based on complementary roles for the public and private sectors, separating the organizational and supervisory requirements of this policy and its efficiency. The main task of the government will be the creation of a transport strategy and establishing the guidelines for its structure, while reducing the public sector's role in operating the transportation tools.

This will require new laws that define the organizational and supervisory role of the non-governmental authorities, and determine their place in the hierarchy.

The government sees a need for urgent attention to air transportation to catch up with the rapid developments in this field through the adoption of the open-sky policy. The government will create a special entity dedicated to civil aviation. In maritime transportation, we see a need for a masterplan to regulate commercial, tourist, fishing, and holiday ports along the entire coast. As for land transportation, the government wants to transform the railroad and joint transportation departments from competing authorities into a single regulatory body. One which would run the buses of the industry and lay the foundations for new regulations, to restructure the administration in line with its organizational and supervisory role.

The government will strive to provide public transport, including the railroad, to all Lebanese territories, which would provide another economic incentive, reduce the fuel bill, and lessen environmental pollution.

As for the movement of cargo, we will continue to work towards lessening the cost of internal as well as cross-border transportation, in cooperation with brotherly neighboring countries.

12. Tourism: Tourism has become a world-wide industry in which all countries are competing. It is based on a modern vision of the tourism revenue that supercedes holiday-making to incorporate our wealth of culture, heritage, and civilization. The government will see to:

a. promoting investment in the tourism sector and protecting our touristic and environmental wealth. The government will adopt policies that propose legislation and measures that will contribute to the development of the tourism sector, encourage the travel to Lebanon, and promote tourism information to widen the Lebanese market to include cultural tourism and healthy tourism

b. revitalizing Lebanon's role in the regional and international associations, especially the Arab Association for Tourism, the International Union of State Organizations for Tourists, and the International Union of Travel and Tourist Agencies

c. improving the tourist industry through lowering costs and upgrading quality. This can be achieved by developing the quality of services offered by those working in the sector and training them and

d. opening new markets and encouraging packages in cooperation with neighboring Arab countries.

13. Industry: The government views industry as a promising sector. It is aware of the role it could play in economic revival and in increasing the Gross Domestic Product, as well as in finding new opportunities for work for the youth to discourage immigration. The government is bent on taking the necessary steps to create a better investment climate to ensure the growth of this sector. The government will give priority to simplifying the establishment of industrial facilities, focusing on lowering production costs, and improving productivity to provide better opportunities for competition.

In this regard, it will encourage new investments in developed industries, especially in the fields of information technology and education, and find outside markets for such products through balanced agreements and an effective role of Lebanon's missions abroad.

14. Labor: The government shall seek to establish the best possible relations between employers and employees. It will strive for an appropriate climate that would elevate the standards of professionalism and productivity. It will see to provide professional training and guidance, especially for the youth, to direct them to specialize in areas that are needed at present and will be needed in the future.

The government will encourage professional training in rural areas, which will provide job opportunities and curb the migration from rural areas to the cities.

As for labor unions, the government will strive to consecrate and defend union freedoms on the basis that labor demands must match sustainable growth in productivity, which would help fortify economic stability and sustain the country's competitive abilities.

Our first aim is to stop the economic recession and attrition, in preparation for a new era, God willing, of recovery and growth, whereby the negative repercussions of stagnation will begin to diminish.

What is required, with urgency, is a change in the mood of recession and pessimism. This can be achieved only through opening all the channels and opportunities for action on the financial, construction, and economic fronts.

The government will request the retrieval of the budget draft to re-submit to your esteemed House a draft that reflects these views.

We depend on your cooperation in these difficult times to move on to a future built on the potentials of the Lebanese people and on their confidence, which the Lebanese have in themselves, in their society, and in their country. This is the confidence which they will transmit to their government and their political system.

Your excellency Mr. Speaker, your excellencies the MPs:

Confronting these challenges and demands will not be possible without your understanding of our country's role within its milieu and in the world at large. This is why Lebanese diplomacy will focus on improving Lebanon's presence among the Arabs and in the world to strengthen its stature. A pragmatic reading of events in the region exposes Israel's firm commitment to its position, which rejects the implementation of international resolutions in order to achieve a comprehensive and just peace. Moreover, it is rescinding agreements it had signed, and constantly attempting to impose its conditions. This is why Lebanon has to stay prepared to face the challenges of the coming era, and the repercussions of what is happening in the region.

This requires true national unity to elevate national interests and the fate of the country above all considerations. More than ever before, this requires an alliance, cooperation, and solidarity with Syria and the deepening of mutual confidence. We are confident that the Lebanese-Syrian experience, in constant cooperation and coordination, is the most important achievement of this phase in the history of the region. It spelled out the defeat of Israel, forcing it to abide by international resolutions and withdraw, accordingly, from Lebanese territories. It also proved right our views regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict, and how to manage the battle with Israel.

Although the liberation struggle has ended the Israeli occupation of most of our territories, we must not forget that there still is a stretch of land under occupation that has to be recovered, and that there are still detainees in Israeli jails that have to be liberated. All this is in addition to the problem of Palestinian presence in Lebanon, which has to be solved in accordance with our absolute rejection of their settlement here. The acknowledgment of the Palestinians' right of return is imperative.

To achieve this, Lebanon still needs the backing of Syria, whose military presence on our soil is necessary, legitimate, and temporary. It is dictated by the strategic requirements agreed upon by both our governments, and is linked to the developments surrounding us. We also emphasize that independence and sovereignty are two principles that have the unanimous support of all Lebanese. We do not believe that anyone in our country would compromise on either of these principles, and no one can upstage the other in commitment to them. As such, it is important for the Lebanese to rally behind their principles and national goals. Also, if the strong confidence between Syria and Lebanon is based on openness, sincerity, and commitment to the joint national interests and goals, then this is the guarantee for the true meaning of these relations. We can build on the positive aspects and remedy the challenges or loopholes we might face. In such a spirit, we can discuss our issues and propose our views, away from any impulsive or rash actions.

Our government pledges its commitment to this course. It will give the Treaty of Brotherhood and Cooperation with Syria special attention that will be up to the standard of the special relations and joint aspirations of the two fraternal countries. It will allow economic relations to rise to the level of political relations, because these relations stretch beyond the issues of liberation to lay the foundations for a joint future between the two countries.

This can be achieved through the proper implementation of the treaty and related agreements that came later. These will remove the barriers and obstacles that impede the creation of an appropriate atmosphere for economic development in a complementary and balanced manner through establishing joint ventures, encouraging investment, and facilitating movements across the border, as well as exchanging technological expertise and services which would benefit both countries.

We are convinced that there are wide horizons for economic cooperation between Syria and Lebanon that can open many doors. They can find great opportunities for integration between productive institutions in both countries that can find more competitive products and services in large and open markets. This will surely benefit us all.