Question: Prime Minister, welcome. We are now at the beginning of spring. We would like to remind you of what you said on Independence Day. Let us listen to a recording of part of your Independence Day speech
(Recording of Hariri) On this national day, we pledge not to stop working until the state stands on firm ground and a new spring begins that will lay the foundations for a modern state and a development and construction process which will begin in the next few years End of recording

Question: Prime Minister, most people see the approach of spring as hope for a better life and future, But there is also a group of people who consistently cast doubt on this. What do you say on this first day of spring?

Hariri: The government is about four months old. We have been looking at different issues since we assumed office. First, we decided not to perform mere patchwork, because that would be useless. There are several thorny issues. Past governments have always sought to put them aside because they involved problems. Of course, it is difficult to try to solve all these issues at once. It is not right to try to solve the problems of electricity, water, telephones, and the airport at once and to keep the people waiting until they are solved. We devised several rehabilitation programs to be carried out quickly, especially on issues that are closely connected with people's daily lives, such as electricity and telephones. Some things are moving faster than we expected and some a little slower. Some things have faced obstacles, but in general things are moving... I can make mistakes. I can try to do something and not succeed. But I will not say something and not do it.

Question: Prime Minister, there are doubts concerning your program of which you may be aware. Yesterday I saw a cartoon in al-nahar; it implied that what you promised could not be done. How do you explain these doubts?

Hariri: I do not see a campaign of doubts. I see people wanting things to move quickly, which is natural in a democratic country. The people were not convinced with the war, which is why, when there was a lull after the shelling and killing you saw the Lebanese rush to repair their homes and shops. They did this because they did not believe in the war and its continuation. When the war ended, the individual Lebanese said: "Take me back to where I was before the war." Regrettably, it is impossible to take the people back.

Question: Prime Minister let us look at the high cost of living and services. the Lebanese are interested in what is going to be done now. We talk about long-term plans, but we must first finish with the streets that need repairing, the sewage system, things that are urgent.

Hariri: You are right. What the Lebanese citizen says is more than accurate. That is why we have submitted a plan to raise the standard of services in Beirut's suburbs. The chamber of deputies studies the plan and made additions, including the ring road and highways. The plan for raising the standard of services in the suburbs is designed to end problems of this kind. We know of these problems, and we realize their importance. Money is required. We know this. We submitted the plan to the chamber of deputies some time ago and committees have started considering it. We are awaiting approval to start its implementation... The signs are encouraging. I understand that the plan will be considered in the chamber of deputies 'first session after the Easter/Ramadan holiday.

Question: Can we understand , Prime Minister, that the rehabilitation of the southern suburbs is linked with the approval of the master plan to develop the suburbs? Or can we separate the two?

Hariri: Listen, the issue of the southern suburbs is a big one . This is one of the major thorny issues that has not been dealt with. Problems have accumulated until now. There are Lebanese citizens in the southern suburbs who live in unsatisfactory circumstances which we ,as a government do not accept. Had these people been able to live better ,they would have done so. Over the years the state has done nothing for them. Complaints as to why they live like this and why they live on property belonging to others or to though the dollar exchange rate fell after the government assumed office, prices have not dropped.

Hariri: It is not true to say prices have not fallen. What is correct is that the people's income is low. That is the main problem.

Question: What is the solution, Prime Minister?

Hariri: The solution is for the wheel of the economy to start moving. There is no other solution. The people's income must rise, the situation must be monitored, and ways must be stable.. We are in the process of adopting a number of measures to set the wheel of the economy in motion.

Question: Do you have any dates? when will the electricity and telephone services improve?

Hariri: Let me tell you about the program and give you the dates... there are a number of programs for the electricity sector: the first involves repairing malfunctions, which is already under way. There are repairmen handling malfunctions wherever they occur. Second, we have called for bids to service all existing equipment, repair the network, and add a new network. This will be the first program of its kind in Lebanon.

Question: How long will it take to do this?

Hariri: Between 18 and 24 months. The third issue involves inviting companies to bid to install 300 megawatts of turbo-gas. The megawatt plan will be ready within a year and another 150 megawatts will be added to them once they are combined. In a year we will have 300 megawatts; a year after that we will have 450 megawatts. Thus, the 1,250 megawatts that we have will have been serviced. some 1,000 megawatts will have to be generated from machines several years old, but they will be overhauled. We will also have 300 megawatts from brand new machines, which will be operational in approximately one year. Another 150 megawatts will be added to them, bringing the total output from the new machines to 450 megawatts. Meanwhile, we are studying the installation of a steam-operated power plant to produce 450 megawatts. This type is of better quality, but it will take some time to install; between 36 and 42 months. This could be part of the Italian loan, which has already been discussed, if the Italian offer turns out to be more favorable than others.

Question: What about the telephones?

Hariri: We have 450,000 telephone line in Lebanon, 220,000 of which are automatic.. These lines are underground and they malfunction easily. When you talk to someone, he hears you, but you don't hear him. Sometimes your telephone works and sometimes it doesn't. These lines cost a lot to repair. They work one month and not another. the government had decided to replace them, to get rid of them, something which should have been done long ago. Had previous officials done so, they would have relieved us and the people of the trouble... We have invited tenders. To buy a telephone line on the market costs approximately $240. The cost of 220,000 lines will be around $47 million to $48 million. We invited the world's most important firms to make their bids .Their price was between $33 million to $48 million. The minister met them before they submitted their bids and asked them to offer the best prices, because the government would accept the least expenses offer. He told them there would no illegal commission by public officials or anything of the sort .Some people believed it and others did not. Then something strange happened. For the first time in my life, I saw the cost of a line fall to $100.

Question: Is the standard of technology high?

Hariri: The highest. It comes from the world's best firms.

Question: So what will happen?

Hariri: Next week we will sign up for 280,000 lines - not 220,000 - at a price of between $25million and $28 million. We could even go up to 300,000 lines, costing from $90 to $100 each. They will be installed within six months from the date the contract is signed. The first lines to become operational will start up three months from the contract date, so they will be operational in six months. The companies need three months to transport them and get organized and another three months to install them. The most important thing is that the tenders show that Lebanon is a serious country and one in which there is no fooling around.

Question: So, can we say that telephones will improve after six months?

Hariri: After six months, all old telephone exchanges will have been modified. Work, to modify the telephone networks is already under way. The telephone problem in Lebanon involves the central exchanges, the network among these exchanges, and the network between central exchanges and homes. The latter is the most complicated. After 21 days, we will submit a tender to repair all networks and install 500,000 new telephone lines. They will take 24 months to install. this will take Lebanon to the threshold of the twenty-first century. Every citizen will receive a telephone in a dignified manner; he will not have to beg for this or that.

Question: Some say that you are Islamizing the country and words indistinct.

Hariri: That is the argument of those who lack logic and proof. It is really shameful. Lebanon is a country that changes thought... I believe in what I am about to say, and I have said it before: all those who work with me belong to the various religions. I have never viewed a man according to his religion. I have always looked at him according to his ability. Therefore, I should be the last to be accused of this charge.

Question; I have a question about this. Some people.

Hariri: (interrupting) This accusation lacks objectivity. What do they mean by saying I am Islamizing the country? I believe more than anyone else that this country must not be ruled by any one individual, sect, group, or party. This country survives only through reconciliation. Any attempt to believe the contrary will lead Lebanon into a tunnel from which it will not emerge. There were attempts in the past; I experienced them and their problems; I lived with the people who thought this way. I know how they ended up; I was one of those who advised them that the country could not be ruled that way. We did not die, but we know who did die. Laughter.

Question: I would like to discuss the issue from a different angle, Mr. Prime Minister. It is natural for people to think that you mix being a businessmen with being a prime Minister. some opposition elements are talking about this. They say that things are being run with a board of director's mentality.

Hariri: What things?

Question: Reconstruction projects, and even political affairs.

Hariri: That is not accurate. It is true that certain things are being managed like business; for example the question of telephones, in which we are negotiating to get the cheapest price and the best quality. We do not deny this; on the contrary, we are proud of it. Regarding the political sphere, it is being managed politically. It is the people who judge a politician. Did we handle the question of Palestinian deportees with a business mentality?

Question: Mr. Prime Minister ,some note that from your position as a politician, you are buying Media establishments. There are now a number of Media establishment that enjoy your support and in which you own most of the shares. The question of the Media is being debated in the country ,and there are some illegal establishments competing with Lebanon 's national television station.

Hariri: If you are talking about my Mustaqbal television station, it was established before I became Prime Minister. It will be the first to respect any law enforced by the state .The government will pass legislation, but, as I said before it will not do anything about the media without an understanding with the media.Such moves should not be viewed as an attempt to curb the media 's freedom. We have two challenges regarding the media :maintaining the freedom of expression and the press on the one hand ,and respecting the law on the other . Some audio and visual establishments are operating with authorization. The government is supposed to solve this problem. But the subject is sensitive and it should not be misunderstood. Some governments tried to address this problem in the past ,but things were misunderstood. I am leaving this for some time until the media representatives realize that a reorganization, at the end of the day serves them and the country. It is not the freedom of the press or expression that is targeted. On the contrary we want the media to give the best it can.

Question: Let us now examine reconstruction, the economic development plan, and the project to develop Beirut's commercial center. Some people do not believe the plan for the reconstruction of Beirut's commercial center should be carried out by a single engineering company.

Hariri: Are you talking about the reconstruction of Lebanon or the reconstruction plan for the old commercial center?

Question: The commercial center. Others are asking for some amendments to the status of the real estate company managing reconstruction in the old city center. Is an amendment acceptable in principle?

Hariri: Your question is twofold: first, the plans for the commercial center's buildings should not be drawn up by a single engineering company. This is 100 % true and I agree with it. I believe this should be avoided if we are to avoid having a city whose buildings all look the same. I do not think we are really doing this. There is a master plan showing offices, hotels, houses, etc. The designs for these buildings will be offered by Lebanese and non-Lebanese architects, and we will choose the best. Dozens of local and international architects and engineering offices, therefore, will propose designs, and sketches for the commercial center. You cannot have fifty engineering offices working on the master plan. You choose one company and discuss its plans; this is what has happened. As regards amendments to the status of the single real estate company, the status was issued by decree. .If anything basic need to be amended ,we will amended it. We are not inflexible. If anything is needed for the public interest ,we will do it. No one has proposed anything in this regard .No one ,for example, proposed that article such-and -such be amended in any way. Everything I heard boils down to one thing: stop this project. I do not believe this would be in the interest of the country. We wish to hear any idea for such improvement.