Lebanese Prime Minister Forms Cabinet
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Agence France Presse
April 19 2005
Prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati announced the creation of a new
unity government to take Lebanon towards May elections, breaking over
six weeks of political deadlock.
He said the administration would contain people representing all
of multi-confessional Lebanon’s religious groups and comprised 14
mainly technocratic members, down from 30 ministers in the previous
government.
“I want to announce the formation of the government this morning,
after a meeting with President Emile Lahoud,” Miqati told reporters.
“This government groups all Lebanese factions,” he said.
“A new government has been formed, it is made up of 14 ministers,”
added presidential spokesman Rafiq Shalala.
Here is the line-up of the new 14-member Lebanese cabinet formed
Tuesday by prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati, which still has to
be approved by parliament.
– Prime Minister: Nagib Miqati (Sunni Muslim, new)
– Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense: Elias Murr (Greek
Orthodox, new)
– Foreign Minister: Mahmud Hammud (Shiite, unchanged)
– Interior Minister: Hassan Sabaa (Sunni, new)
– Finance, economy and trade: Demianos Khattar (Maronite, new)
– Culture, Education Minister: Ghassan Salameh (Greek Catholic, new)
– Public Works, Transport and Refugees: Adel Hamiyeh (Druze, new)
– Health, Social Affairs Minister: Mohammad Khalifeh (Shiite,
unchanged)
– Telecommunication, sports and youth minister: Alain Taburian
(Armenian, state minister in previous government)
– Justice Minister: Khaled Qabbani (Sunni, new)
– Industry and Energy Minister: Bassam Yammin (Maronite, new)
– Information, Tourism Minister: Charles Rizk (Maronite, new)
– Environment, Administrative Development: Tareq Mitri (Greek
Orthodox, new)
– Labour, Agriculture Minister: Tarrad Hamadeh (Shiite, new) – AFP
