Politics

Lebanese Minister of Defence Elias Bou Saab ended a two-day visit to the United Kingdom, a press release by the British Embassy in Beirut said on Thursday. Press release said: "The visit reflects the value Britain places on the relationship with Lebanon and in particular our defence cooperation." In London, Minister Bou Saab met with Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster, and Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter." Speaking after the visit, Ambassador Chris Rampling said: "I am very pleased to see Minister Elias Bou Saab conclude a successful visit to the United Kingdom. We remain strong and committed partners of the Lebanese army and we look forward to strengthening our military and security relations even further...

Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed efforts to achieve a political solution to the crisis in Syria during a telephone conversation on Thursday.Sputnik quoted Kremlin as saying in a statement that Putin and Macron exchanged views on the situation in Syria with emphasis on the importance of reaching the political settlement to the crisis in the country.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Bonn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed that his country is going ahead in its efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria in light of Astana formula and UN resolution 2254.Lavrov said at a press conference with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, Regarding Syria, we have briefed the German side on our efforts, along with Iran and Turkey, through Astana formula and UN resolution 2254, including humanitarian aids and the comprehensive settlement process and dialogue.UNSC resolution 2254 of December 2015 underlines that the Syrians are the only ones who determine the future of their country without any foreign intervention.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Finance Minister, Ali Hassan Khalil, on Thursday indicated that blocs and ministers did not voice objections to the budget draft during the Cabinet meetings, but said that there were reservations over several items."It is not true that some blocs and ministers objected to the budget in the Cabinet (...) nobody made a clear objection but there were several reservations over the articles," Khalil told the Parliament evening session."It is true that there is separation of power, but we are ready for the highest level of cooperation to produce a better image of a budget that comes amid a difficult juncture," he said, adding that the financial and economic indicators are highly critical."There are eyes that are watching and ears that are listening," he noted."We must be aware of the reverberati...

Lebanese Minister of Defence Elias Bou Saab ended a two-day visit to the United Kingdom, a press release by the British Embassy in Beirut said on Thursday. Press release said: "The visit reflects the value Britain places on the relationship with Lebanon and in particular our defence cooperation." In London, Minister Bou Saab met with Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster, and Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter." Speaking after the visit, Ambassador Chris Rampling said: "I am very pleased to see Minister Elias Bou Saab conclude a successful visit to the United Kingdom. We remain strong and committed partners of the Lebanese army and we look forward to strengthening our military and security relations even further...

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, welcomed this Wednesday at the Embassy Minister of State for Investment and Technology, Adel Afiouni, with whom he discussed most recent political developments in Lebanon and the broad region. Discussions also covered issues of common interest. In a statement issued later by Minister Afiouni's Media Office, it said that Afiouni visited Ambassador Bukhari at the Embassy, with whom he discussed the bilateral relations between Lebanon and the KSA, and means of activating cooperation in the fields of knowledge economy and technology. "I was glad to meet today with Ambassador Bukhari... I relayed to him the Lebanese people's keenness on the historic and consolidated relations between Lebanon and the Kingdom, and their appreciation for the Saudi Kingd...

British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling and US Ambassador Elizabeth Richard met the Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun at the Head Quarters of the Second Land Border Regiment to discuss progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border, during the High Level Steering Committee (HLSC), a press release by the British Embassy in Beirut said.Following the meeting, Ambassador Rampling said: "It is an honour to visit the Head Quarters of the second Land Border Regiment. These barracks played a significant role in operations against Daesh, and Nusra and ultimately led to the success of Fajr El Jouroud operation. Our visit today to discuss the progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border exemplifies the trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces and how they have managed to ensure sta...

British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling and US Ambassador Elizabeth Richard met the Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun at the Head Quarters of the Second Land Border Regiment to discuss progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border, during the High Level Steering Committee (HLSC), a press release by the British Embassy in Beirut said.Following the meeting, Ambassador Rampling said: "It is an honour to visit the Head Quarters of the second Land Border Regiment. These barracks played a significant role in operations against Daesh, and Nusra and ultimately led to the success of Fajr El Jouroud operation. Our visit today to discuss the progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border exemplifies the trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces and how they have managed to ensure sta...

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, received this Tuesday Spain's ambassador to Lebanon, Jose Maria Ferre de la Pena, and the Spanish military attache, Colonel Fernando Royo, with talks touching on cooperation between the armies of the two countries.Source: National News Agency

Damascus, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem at noon on Monday received Iran's Shura Council Assistant Speaker for International Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian and the accompanying delegation.Talks during the meeting dealt with the strategic relations between the two countries, underlining the importance of working on developing them continually and preserving the continued high-level coordination and consultation between the two brotherly countries.The two sides also discussed the latest developments in the region and means to overcome the challenge facing the two countries, on top the siege and the coercive economic measures imposed by the US and its allies on the two peoples in the interest of Israel in a way that is considered one of the forms of...