Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Tuesday welcomed French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Le Drian, and the accompanying delegation at the second presidency headquarters in Ain El-Tineh.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
CARETAKER CABINET HOLDS SESSION ON THURSDAY
The caretaker cabinet holds a session at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 8 at the Serail, to discuss the agenda items previously distributed.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
ARMY CHIEF RECEIVES FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER IN YARZEH
Army commander, Major General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday welcomed at his Yarzeh office, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, accompanied by the Director of North Africa and the Middle East at the French Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Anne Grillo, and French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro.
Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation in Lebanon and the region.
Séjourné stressed ‘the important army’s role in preserving Lebanon’s security and stability during the current circumstances.”
The Army Commander thanked ‘the French authorities for their continued support for the military institution.’
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
GEAGEA, US AMBASSADOR BROACH LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTSEgypt to continue its efforts to reach Gaza ceasefire agreement: Rashwan
Lebanese Forces” Party leader, Samir Geagea, along with his wife, member of the “Strong Republic” Bloc, MP Strida Geagea, on Tuesday welcomed US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, in Maarab.
The meeting reportedly focused on Lebanese and regional developments. “We are currently witnessing a race between escalating wars and increasingly active diplomacy, Geagea said, stressing that “the only ray of hope lies in placing the Palestinian issue among the priorities.’
Geagea also noted the ongoing efforts to address the Palestinian conflict, ‘which will ultimately lead to regional de-escalation.’
The presidential dossier was also addressed during the meeting. Geagea affirmed, “In Lebanon, we have a constitution and genuine institutions. Our main task is to reactivate these institutions and remove the obstructionist grip on them to enable the production of effective solutions to the crisis created by those who have become known to everyone.”
‘Lebanese people only ask the international community to help stop th
e obstruction and revive life in institutions, especially the parliament, which is the main gateway to the solution, by holding real and genuine presidential election sessions, not symbolic ones as has happened so far. MPs are called upon to fulfill their constitutional duty in consecutive sessions,’ he added.
Geagea extended his best wishes to Ambassador Johnson in her new role, expressing gratitude to the United States for its support to Lebanon and its institutions.
He hoped for the continuation of this support, especially for ‘the military institutions striving to maintain security and stability during this turbulent and critical phase in Lebanon’s history and the region.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Egypt will continue to exert its utmost efforts in order to reach a ceasefire agreement in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip soon, according to Chairman of the State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan.
He added that Egypt received, 6-2-2024, Hamas’ response to the proposed framework, reached during the Paris meeting for a truce agreement which Egypt handed over to the Hamas movement.
He stressed that Egypt will discuss all the details of the proposed framework with the concerned parties, including intensifying meetings with them, to reach an agreement among them on its final formula as soon as possible.
Rashwan stated that Egypt had recently put forward a framework for a proposal, trying to bring viewpoints closer between all concerned parties, in an effort to stop Palestinian bloodshed, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and restore peace and stability to the region, accordingly, Palestinian prisoners and Israeli detainees will be exchanged in stages, and humanitarian support for our brothers in the Gaza Strip w
ill be intensified.
Rashwan stressed that Egypt will continue its intense efforts around the clock, in order to end the fighting in Gaza, and preserve the lives of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, to which the agreement on the proposed framework will be a necessary introduction, and which Egypt will successively announce everything new in negotiating with interested parties.
Source: State Information Service Egypt
MIKATI WELCOMES FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER AT GRAND SERAIL
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday welcomed at the Grand Serail, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné.
The meeting took place in the presence of French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, the Director of North Africa and the Middle East at the French Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Anne Grillo, and a number of advisors.
From the Lebanese side, the meeting was attended by Premier Mikati’s Advisors former Minister Nicolas Nahhas and Ambassador Boutros Asaker.
During the meeting, the French minister indicated that “his visit to Lebanon falls within the framework of a tour of a number of countries in the context of international efforts to stop the war in Gaza, preserve stability in Lebanon, and keep dangers away.”
Séjourné stressed that “electing a new president for Lebanon is an essential issue to keep pace with the major entitlements that Lebanon and the region are witnessing.”
He stressed “the priority of preserving the calm in the south and stopping military operations.”
Source: Nati
onal News Agency – Lebanon
KARAMI BROACHES DEVELOPMENTS IN LEBANON AND REGION WITH UN’S WRONECKA
Head of the “Dignity Movement” and member of the “National Accord” bloc, MP Faisal Karami, on Tuesday received at the residence of former PM Omar Karami in Beirut, the United United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka.
The meeting reportedly touched on the latest Lebanese developments at the political, economic and security levels. Discussions also dwelt on the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER CONFERS WITH BOU HABIB, MAKES NO STATEMENT FOLLOWING MEETING
French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following a meeting with Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, without making a statement to the press.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
MIKATI URGES DONOR COUNTRIES TO RECONSIDER UNRWA FUNDING CUTS, MEETS GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY STATE SECRETARY, AMBASSADOR OF ESTONIA
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday called on donor countries to “reconsider the issue of halting funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), because funding constitutes an urgent and necessary need for a cause not chosen by the Palestinians, but rather imposed upon them.”
Premier Mikati also called on donor countries to “consider the exceptional situation of UNRWA in Lebanon, because there is a Lebanese specificity that must be taken into account.”
Mikati also stressed that he will communicate with donor countries in the conferences and meetings he holds “to urge them to reconsider this issue in view of its direct repercussions on the overall Lebanese reality.”
Premier Mikati received today at the Grand Serail, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Dr. Dorothy Klaus, in the presence of the Chairman of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Dr. Dr. Bassel Al-Hassan.
On the other hand, Mikati received at the Grand Serail, the Parliamentar
y State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, in the presence of the accompanying delegation, and the German Ambassador to Lebanon, Kurt Georg Stoeckl-Stillfried.
The meeting also took place in the presence of Mikati’s Advisors, Ambassador Boutros Asaker and Ziad Mikati.
Discussions during the meeting reportedly touched on the bilateral relations, financial and economic cooperation, in addition to the security situation in the south and the implementation of Resolution 1701.
The German official informed the Prime Minister that his country ‘decided to continue supporting UNRWA in Lebanon in addition to supporting development projects in the country.’
He also stressed “supporting Lebanon in implementing Resolution 1701.”
Mikati later received the Ambassador of Estonia, Ingrid Amer, with whom he discussed the current situation in Lebanon and the region.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
BERRI BROACHES GENERAL SITUATION WITH AIN EL-TINEH ITINERANT VISITORS, MEETS IFRC PRESIDENT, NEW BANGLADESHI AMBASSADOR, MP MAKHZOUMI, SIGNS 2024 BUDGET BILL
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday received at the Second presidency in Ain El-Tineh, the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Kate Forbes, with an accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Lebanese Red Cross President Dr. Antoine Zoghbi, and Lebanese Red Cross executive committee member, Amina Berri Fawaz.
Forbes briefed Speaker Berri on the IFRC work programs in Lebanon and the region.
Speaker Berri later welcomed the new Ambassador of Bangladesh to Lebanon, Javed Tanveer Khan, who came on a protocol visit upon assuming his new diplomatic mission in the country.
Discussions between the pair reportedly touched on the current general situation and the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Berri later met with Head of the “National Dialogue” Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, with whom he discussed the general situation, political developments, and legislative affairs.
Among Speaker Berri’s itinerant visitors for today had been the Vice-Presi
dent of the National Media Council and the Supervisor of the “Diaspora” Website, Ibrahim Awad,
On the other hand, Berri signed the 2024 budget bill and referred it to the Council of Ministers.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
IRAQI AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN BEIRUT ON WEDNESDAY
Iraqi Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Abbas Jabr al-Maliki, is set to arrive on Wednesday in Beirut, at the head of a delegation of senior ministry officials, in response to an invitation by Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Abbas Hajj Hassan.
The visit will last for three days, during which Minister al-Maliki will meet with House Speaker, Nabih Berri, and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The two ministers will commence their itinerant program on Thursday with bilateral talks and the signing of a cooperation protocol at the government serail, in addition to an agricultural tour and meetings with the chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
DERIAN DISCUSSES LEBANESE AND ARAB AFFAIRS WITH YEMENI AMBASSADOR
Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, on Monday received at Dar Al-Fatwa, Yemeni Ambassador to Lebanon, Abdullah Al-Duays.
Discussions reportedly touched on Lebanese and Arab affairs and means of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
BOU HABIB DISCUSSES ECONOMIC, POLITICAL MATTERS WITH PARLIAMENTARY STATE SECRETARY TO THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, on Monday discussed with the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, an array of economic and political matters, most notably the situation along the southern border.
Caretaker Minister Bou Habib told the German Minister that Lebanon “wants complete solutions, rather than partial solutions.”
Discussions between the pair also touched on the refugee file and the UNRWA funding issue.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon