Category: Politics

Progressive Socialist Party Head, MP Taymour Jumblatt, on Wednesday received at his Clemenceau office, Acting Director General of General Security, Brigadier General Elias Baissari, Brigadier General Youssef Al-Mdawar.

This took place in the presence of ‘Democratic Gathering’ bloc MP Wael Abou Faour, and MP Jumblatt’s Advisor Houssam Harb.

Discussions reportedly touched on the latest political and security developments.

MP Jumblatt also received the Ambassador of Argentina to Lebanon, Maria Virginia Ruiz Quintar, in the presence of MP Abou Faour, PSP Vice Head Zaher Raad, and MP Jumblatt’s Advisor Houssam Harb.

The latest developments in Lebanon and the region featured high on their talks.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Cairo: Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Osama bin Ahmed Nugali met on Wednesday with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Egypt Jeremy Hopkins.

During their meeting at the embassy, Hopkins commended Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting UNICEF programs.

Participants also discussed the programs of the UNICEF in the region.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani directed the Ministry of Trade to quickly hand over the financial dues to farmers.

Al-Sudani stressed during the marketing season launch ceremony in Anbar: ‘Agriculture has been of great importance in the work and directions of the government, and we have placed supporting agriculture among the priorities, starting with the implementation of agricultural plans.’

He added: ‘The Council of Ministers set the price for receiving one ton of wheat at (850) thousand dinars, and there will be a preferential price in the next season for lands cultivated with modern irrigation systems. / End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has reached Ain-el-Tineh for talks with House Speaker Nabih Berri.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The UK Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, completed a two-day visit to Lebanon on Tuesday 23 April. This was his first visit, to discuss UK efforts for de-escalation in the region.

Air Marshall Smyth met with Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker Nabih Berri, General Joseph Aoun, Chief of Defence for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib. In his messages he reiterated UK’s support to the strengthening of LAF and for the people of Lebanon. He emphasised UK’s ongoing commitment to support LAF as it delivers stability and security across Lebanon despite the country’s challenges.

In north Lebanon, he saw how the hard-working officers and soldiers of the 1st Land Border Regiment continue to professionally secure Lebanon’s sovereignty and to combat smuggling and terrorist activities along more than 100km of the border with Syria.

At the end of his visit, Air Marshall Harvey Smyth said:”I have seen first-hand the excellent partnership be
tween the British and Lebanese Armed Forces on the Syrian border, and during my meetings I reiterated the UK’s position that Lebanon must not be dragged into a regional conflict. The UK is working closely alongside our Lebanese partners to de-escalate tensions in the region and ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line, whilst calling for an end to the fighting in Gaza.”

British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell said:

“Now, more than ever, it is important that we work together to avoid further escalation in South Lebanon and the region. The UK remains committed to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces during these challenging times, and will work with international partners towards peace and long-term stability.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani directed the Ministry of Trade to quickly hand over the financial dues to wheat marketers.

Al-Sudani stressed during the launching ceremony of the wheat marketing season in Anbar: ‘Agriculture has occupied great importance in the work and directions of our government, and in various directions, whether legislative with the House of Representatives or decisions that fall within our powers, and we have placed supporting agriculture among the priorities, starting with the implementation of agricultural plans, as well as we directed the adoption of modern irrigation methods to confront water scarcity and achieve the highest yield per dunum, which achieves economic feasibility for the farmer and meets our need for this strategic crop.’

He added: “We were able to provide locally produced fertilizers, after opening the urea fertilizer production line and the Dab fertilizer production line in Basra. For the first time, Iraq reached self-sufficiency in fertilizer for the agric
ultural plan, and we directed the amount that was allocated to import fertilizers to purchase modern irrigation systems.”

Al-Sudani stressed: ‘Our reliance on agriculture is a strategic choice to activate the economic sector,’ noting: ‘The agricultural sector is important in both its plant and animal parts and is related to food security. The government is serious about improving the agricultural situation, which represents a profession for about 75 % of the population of Iraq.’

Regarding the strategic framework agreement with Turkey, the Prime Minister stressed that it: ‘represents a qualitative leap in terms of radical solutions to the water problem.’

He explained: ‘According to the water framework agreement with Turkey, we will go towards establishing dam projects, lining rivers, and using pipes to reduce waste, to establish wastewater treatment plants and use them in agriculture.’

Al-Sudani supervised the process of receiving the wheat crop from the governorate’s peasants and farmers. He also handed o
ver financial dues to a group of farmers and marketers in the form of deeds, in clear confirmation of the speedy completion of delivering the financial dues to the farmers who will market their crops of wheat, barley and corn./ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Former Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, on Wednesday welcomed at Baabda Palace the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka.

During the meeting, the pair discussed the most recent developments in Lebanon and the region.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Wednesday inaugurated the ‘Project Lebanon 2024’ fair trade, in its 25th edition, at Seaside Arena, Beirut Waterfront, in the presence of Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh.

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of ambassadors, diplomats, officials, and concerned specialists.

It is noteworthy that ‘Project Lebanon 2024’ is a trade fair for construction, infrastructure and renewable energy for Lebanon and the region, and it is organized by the ‘International Exhibitions Company’ under the slogan ‘Lebanon Moving Forward’, to highlight the pivotal role of the construction and renewable energy sectors in the advancement of the Lebanese economy.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Heads of Parliaments of the European Union countries, in their meeting in Spain, supported the idea of establishing a joint rapid reaction force in the Union of 5,000 soldiers aimed at rapid response to emerging crises.

The Spanish News Agency ‘EFE’ reported: Quoting what was stated in the final document of the meeting: ‘The heads of parliaments consider that the European Union’s initiative on its military tool, which would ensure the protection of the security of the Union’s citizens, its interests and its democratic values, is of particular importance, and in this regard, we affirm the a need for about 5,000 soldiers to deploy quickly in the event of a crisis of any kind.

The heads of parliaments also noted in the document that the European Union has already developed several tasks and operations aimed at stabilizing the situation in neighboring countries and regions.

The idea of creating a unified European army has continued to be raised for at least the past ten years, and the matter has become mor
e important during the period in which Donald Trump served as US President, as he made it clear that his country was no longer prepared to provide a ‘defensive umbrella’ for Europe within the framework of NATO.

In November 2023, EU Foreign Policy Commissioner Josep Borrell announced that the bloc would raise the 5,000-military rapid reaction force to full operational readiness by 2025.

Yesterday, Tuesday, a meeting of the heads of parliaments of European Union countries was held on the Spanish island of Mallorca./End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Sidon City Municipality Head, Dr. Hazem Badih, on Wednesday welcomed French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro.

During the meeting, Badih highlighted the municipality’s efforts in addressing various issues, including the waste crisis, infrastructure rehabilitation, and the challenges posed by the presence of Syrian refugees and southern residents displaced by Israeli attacks.

Ambassador Magro praised the municipality’s work and expressed France’s readiness to support Sidon despite Lebanon’s difficult economic conditions. He also emphasized France’s interest in Lebanon’s general situation and its participation in the Quintet Committee to address key issues like presidential elections and southern stability.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani received members of the House of Representatives from Anbar Governorate.

During the meeting, Al-Sudani stressed the government’s keenness and interest in following up on all files that concern the citizens of the governorate, especially the service aspect, indicating the importance of integration in work between all authorities in order not to delay the laws and projects that the people need.

He added: ‘The government launched a package of programs and completed many projects that had been stalled for years.’/ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani confirmed today, Wednesday, that the process of construction, reconstruction, and project implementation all require security stability.

A statement from his media office stated that Al-Sudani chaired, today, Wednesday, a meeting of security leaders in Anbar Governorate, in the context of his visit to the governorate today.

Al-Sudani stressed, according to the statement, that Anbar Governorate has importance and has privacy because it extends over a large area of Iraqi land, which requires a double effort in order to maintain security there, he pointed out: ‘The victories that were achieved over terrorism would not have occurred without the stance of the people of Anbar who supported the security forces, worked in all their formations and made sacrifices for the sake of their province and their homeland.’

The Prime Minister stated that the government has launched a broad program that includes priorities related to reconstruction and services that will improve the ser
vice reality for citizens throughout Iraq, stressing that the process of construction, reconstruction and project implementation all require security stability, and this falls on the responsibility of our heroic security forces that we need. And this must make more efforts, as it made previously in the war against terrorism.”

Al-Sudani directed, according to the statement, that the security man should reflect the image of the state as best as possible, and that he should deal with citizens in accordance with the standards of the law and human rights without transgressing or attacking people’s dignity.’/End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency