NNA - MP Akram Shehayeb considered Saturday that the current security situation renders it imperative for all sides to rise to a higher level in their political performance, so as to be upto the challenges facing them.


Speaking on behalf of MP Walid Jumblatt at the "Safety of Buildings in Lebanon" Conference held under Jumblatt's auspices at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, Shehayeb considered that the Conference highlights a very important issue.


"This dossier has been affected by Lebanese chaos in times of war, as well as in peace, like many other files lacking scientific, technical and professional standards, and overwhelmed by political and factional considerations and personal interests," added Shehayeb.

"The Lebanese did not succeed, unfortunately, in approaching engineering dossiers with an engineer's eye, but rather approached them politically, regionally, and even ideologically; thus, aborting their ability to contribute to the development of rural areas," said Shehayeb.


Shehayeb continued to indicate that the Progressive Socialist Party has always sided with environmental issues, confronting waves of distortion and chaos in buildings and construction.


"The responsibility of national, political and professional ethics requires respecting the basic platform of architectural and engineering work through the strict implementation of rules and regulations related to this sector, with proper quality control, and taking into account the specifications of public safety," he added.


"Lebanon can take advantage of the current moment of international distraction, so to speak, to veer in the direction of organizing political differences in the country," said Shehayeb. He noted herein that establishing consensus between the Lebanese is not an impossible matter, and is a "collective responsibility shared by all political parties with no exception," he added.



It is to note that the Conference was divided into 2 sessions: the first, headed by former Minister Ziad Baroud, in which he spoke about the role of decentralization and municipalities regarding the safety of buildings and construction.


The second session, headed by Director General of Urban Planning, Elias Tawil, highlighted the role of planning and the safety of buildings as well.



================= R.Sh.