Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed that Tripoli restored calm after the fire exchange has been halted, and that the Lebanese Army took safety precautions and deployed across four essential outposts in the city. Mikati indicated that the ongoing sit-in at Nour Square would be peacefully resolved.

Mikati's stance came Tuesday amidst a meeting with accredited journalists at the Grand Serail.

"There are Arab revolutions calling for justice, law and democracy, yet we must not forget that our ongoing essential revolution is to safeguard the Lebanese state and its entity - something that is going on despite the current circumstances," said Mikati.

Mikati announced that he was breifed by the Justice Minister that the review made by the General Prosecutor, as concerning the arrested Islamists, would end soon and results would be released.

Turning to the Syrian situation, the Premier affirmed his cabinet's continued adoption of the disassociation policy towards turmoil in Syria, in order to safeguard Lebanon's stability and security.

Mikati assured that his relation with House Speaker Nabih Berri was still rigid, saying that he was sure that Berri wanted his cabinet to succeed.

The Premier denounced the way that the Salafist Chady Mawlawi had been caught by the General Security. "Despite the fact that a judiciary note was issued to arrest Mawlawi, yet violating an office for a minister and deputy in this concern is something unacceptable," said the Premier.

Separately, Prime Minister Najib Mikati received at the Grand Serail the US Ambassador Maura Connelly and reviewed with her overall developments at the local and regional scenes. Connelly hailed the way that Mikati-led government behaved to pacify the security tension in Tripoli, saying that the United States was much perturbed about the situation in Tripoli.

Amongst Grand Serail's visitors had been the Prime Minister of New South Wales, Barry O'Farell, head of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, Michel Dweihy, and former Minister Maurice Sahnawi.

Under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) launched a milestone reference book on public health in Lebanon and the region.

Titled “Public Health in the Arab World” (Cambridge University Press, March 2012) the 500-page book is the largest volume of its kind in the history of public health literature in the region. In its English edition, the book has already generated great interest at the global level especially at a time when the Arab World is at the center of international attention. It is currently being translated into Arabic by the WHO, and the Arabic issue is expected to be released by the end of the year.

The book editors are: Samer Jabbour, Rita Giacaman from Birzeit University, Marwan Khawaja from ESCWA (formerly at AUB FHS), Iman Nuwayhid and the associate editor is Rouham Yamout from WHO (formerly at AUB FHS).

The book launch ceremony took place at the Hisham Jaroudi Auditorium at the AUB Rafic Hariri Nursing School in the presence of PM Mikati and a host of academics and members of international organizations.

Mikati gave his full endorsement of the book, calling it a “massive accomplishment that fills major information gaps in public health.” “When I was invited to patron the event,” he noted, “I did not hesitate for a moment. Why? Because the event is at AUB, and this institution has taught us a lot and we owe it a lot. It taught us values, tolerance and respect for others and most importantly, that religion is for all but is a private matter.”

He added: “And if I can give it [the book] a boost in any way, I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute, especially since, of the 80 or so contributors, 26 are Lebanese and that gives us great pride.”

Mikati also noted that the section on the effect of violence and wars on public health caught his attention, and he urged everyone to study it and learn from it. He also offered his support for any new editions the University is planning to release.

Besides PM Mikati, speakers at the ceremony included AUB President Peter Dorman, Health Sciences Dean Iman Nuwayhid and lead editor of the book Samer Jabbour, a senior lecturer at AUB. Professor Hoda Zurayk was master of ceremony.

“Public Health in the Arab World is a prime example of what we, at AUB, want to be doing and, indeed, what we do best in terms of producing research that speaks to the challenges of the region and attempts to address realizable solutions,” said AUB President Peter Dorman. “With over 500 pages and 38 chapters, this is the largest volume of its kind in the history of public health in the region and certainly the most ambitious effort to be led by a university in Lebanon.”

FHS Dean Iman Nuwayhid noted that the faculty took on this project because “this is part of our mission… to make an impact through our scientific research, our network of connections with sister institutions and our wide-ranging contacts among local communities and decision-makers to improve the state of public health in our region. We base our mission on our commitment to health as a human right and a humanitarian concept grounded in social justice.”

Nuwayhid also underscored the importance of AUB’s support for the project.

The book is divided into seven sections which address the context of public health; social determinants of health; infectious and non-infectious diseases; the health of certain vulnerable groups, such as women, the elderly, migrants and children; health in the context of war and violence; health systems and health care delivery; and health and the social agenda.

Lead editor Samer Jabbour, a senior lecturer at FHS, said, “The book is a massive collaboration, a common vision, and an ongoing dialogue among over 80 experts from public health and other fields.”

He added: “Before this book, researchers and policy-makers would focus their energies on studying the politics, economy, or sociology of the region, without looking into health concerns. But the recent Arab uprisings have shown that a lot of the causes of youth disenfranchisement stems from the unemployment, marginalization, and the absence of social justice. What we have shown through this book is that studying the health of a population can reveal these issues, and finding solutions to health problems can contribute to a more global solution.”

All royalties from the sale of the book will go to purchase copies to be distributed for free to students and institutions of public health in the Arab World.

Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, fueled hopes on Friday for enhanced cabinet performance, confirming that current discussions were set on legalizing extra-budgetary spending rather than merely discussing the availability of funds.

Mikati delivered his most recent stance in a dialogue he had held with the participants of the "Economic and Business Forum", which winded up its sessions at Phoenicia Hotel this afternoon.

"I hope we will manage to surpass existing obstacles hindering the cabinet's work pending the Council of Minister's session next Wednesday," Mikati said, confirming that a solution to the spending issue would eventually be found.

"Neither the cabinet Ministers, nor do I accept to be the cause of the problem, and the best solution lies in a robust cabinet capable of serving the country," the Minister said.

Countering the people's denting hopes with regard to a mounting electricity crisis in Lebanon, the Prime Minister confirmed that the matter was being seriously discussed at administrative and technical levels.

"Preparations are underway for a tender that complies with all the conditions which have been approved by the World Bank, which had expressed a will to finance the project," he said in reference to an overhaul plan for the electricity sector.

As for the Lebanese Banking sector, Mikati praised its vibrant condition, saying it is attracting even more assets and liquidity.

"The Lebanese Central Bank currently owns the highest foreign currency reserves," Mikati said.

But the Prime Minister argued that the current cabinet was paying a dear price for three main issues; legalizing expenditures, the security and administrative situations.

"I handled this responsibility to find a solution, and not to become an additional problem," Mikati said, pressing for scientific solutions to the aforementioned problems.

"If we fail to find suitable solutions, then we are at the risk of facing additional problems in the country."

Prime Minister Najib Mikati Wednesday said we look forward to having UN be more just in issuing international resolutions and compel their implementation to guarantee comprehensive and just peace.

Speaking at the ESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) 27th conference inauguration at the UN House in Beirut, Mikati said changes the world was encountering were an evident proof of the link between social justice and balanced development.

"Upheavals and movements demanding for democracy are part of the historical development of the Arab region," Mikati said noting herein the difficulty of the whole democratic path which cannot be achieved overnight or by a simple change in systems or holding elections.

In that respect, Mikati said despite Lebanon's eligibility to be the best model in freedom and democracy, it is still working on developing its democratic system while concentrating on administrative reform, citizenship, and setting further laws to preserve freedoms and human rights.

Lebanese Premier reiterated calls on Arab nations to activate joint works to establish peace and to anchor democracy and social justice.

"In our talks on the Middle-East developmental threats we can't help but to bring out the Palestinian cause which encloses the people's right to establish their own independent state with Quds its capital," he noted and said this move comes within the frame of implementing international resolutions and of holding on to the Palestinians' rights Israel constantly violates.

In respect to the Israeli violations, Mikati reminded of the constant Israeli breaches against Lebanese land, aerial, and maritime sovereignty urging the UN to impose resolutions' implementation in support of the Lebanese sovereignty.

"Israel carries out its occupation to Lebanese territories defying by so all international resolutions," he remarked.

Mikati expressed appreciation to the ESCWA endeavors in holding gatherings to support Arab people and their causes.