Al-Awadi: Since its formation, the government has been keen to launch qualitative service and development projects that achieve public benefit


Government spokesman Bassem Al-Awadi confirmed: ‘Since its formation, the government has been keen to launch qualitative service and development projects that achieve the general benefit of the people.’

Al-Awadi said in a statement: ‘The decision to evacuate and open the military zone in Holy Kadhimiya comes within an advanced modern architectural vision.’

He added: “The Council of Ministers issued a decision to evacuate and open the military zone that has been closed for decades, and allocate its lands to establish service facilities, cultural and religious centers, and multiple rest cities for the distinguished visitors, who come to the city from various regions of the world and for the people of Al-Kadhimiya, as well as the establishment of educational, medical, and sports facilities and commercial markets that reflects the city’s heritage.

He pointed out that: ‘The (new) area will be connected to Al-Krayyat area with a modern suspension bridge, and it will also be connected to the area surrounding the
shrine of the two Kazemin Imams (peace be upon them), with a train railway, within an integrated modern architectural vision, and the building for the headquarters of what was known as (the Fifth Division) will be transformed to a large museum, to be a witness to the crimes of the Baathist regime against the Iraqis, and because it also embodies the sacrifices and heroism of the heroic martyrs who stood valiantly and courageously against the dictatorial regime.’

He continued: “This museum will preserve all documents, historical evidence, torture tools, and other evidence, to be a living witness for generations and history to the tragedies of the era of tyranny and the struggles and sacrifices of our people.”

He concluded by saying: ‘The government is renewing its consistent approach and its keenness to race against time to launch such large and qualitative projects, in the service of all the people of our dear country.’

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

BOU HABIB MEETS IN MANAMA WITH HIS BAHRAINI AND IRAQI COUNTERPARTS


Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdullah Bou Habib, on Wednesday held meetings in Bahrain, on the sidelines of his participation in the meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers, in preparation for the Arab summit scheduled for tomorrow in Manama.

In this context, Minister Bou Habib met with his Bahraini counterpart, Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, whereby Minister Bou Habib hailed Bahrain’s support for Lebanon and and its endeavor to achieve stability and security in the region.

Bou Habib stressed, “Lebanon’s attachment to diplomacy as a means of resolving conflicts and establishing stability, which can only be achieved through respect for international law and international legitimacy.”

Minister Bou Habib also met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

NASRALLAH MEETS HAMAS DELEGATION


Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, met with a delegation of Hamas Movement, chaired by Khalil al-Hayya.

The meeting touched on the latest developments in occupied Palestine, namely in Gaza, and the various support fronts.

Conferees also discussed the ongoing negotiations and the latest political positions and pro-Palestine student movements worldwide.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Iraq and Bahrain discuss developments in the situation in Palestine


Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed with his Bahraini counterpart Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, today, Wednesday, regional and international issues and developments in the situation in Palestine.

Hussein said in a blog post on the ‘X’ platform: ‘In a fruitful meeting with Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, we discussed Bahrain’s experience in preparing for the 33rd Arab Summit, exchanged views on the distinguished relations between our two countries, and discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the situation in Palestine.

He added: “We look forward to these discussions yielding positive results that benefit the two peoples and the region.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

PARLIAMENT APPROVES RECOMMENDATION IN PRESENCE OF GOVERNMENT AND ITS PRESIDENT REGARDING MECHANISM FOR ADDRESSING DISPLACEMENT CRISIS AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS


In a session devoted to discussing the European one-billion euro donation and the issue of the displaced Syrians, the House of Parliament approved a recommendation, in the presence of the government and its premier, about the mechanism for dealing with the displaced crisis and its repercussions.

The Parliament recommended the formation of a ministerial committee, headed by the Prime Minister, comprising the competent ministers, and the leadership of the army, general security, internal security, and state security, for direct and close communication and follow-up with international and regional bodies and various institutions, especially with the Syrian government.

The recommendation also called for setting a timely and detailed programme for the return of the displaced, with the exception of special cases protected by Lebanese laws and determined by the committee, stressing Lebanon’s commitment to the content of the agreement between the Lebanese government and the UNHCR, as a basis for addressing the issu
e and called on UNHCR to fully implement its provisions.

The recommendation, which included 9 points, stressed that ‘the government must adhere to the position announced by its president at the session and to convey it to the countries and the body working on the displacement file, that Lebanon can no longer bear the burden of the presence of the displaced, and in any case it cannot be a border guard for any country, and that what is required is the cooperation of all countries to solve this dilemma and to direct support towards enhancing the return of the displaced and ensuring their stability in their country, along with securing their livelihood necessities.’

The recommendation also requested the government to submit a report every three months to the Parliament on the stages of implementing recommendation content.

Speaker Berri opened up at 11.00 am this morning the general session devoted to discussing the fresh European Union aid package to Lebanon and the Syrian displacement file, in the presence of
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, ministers and deputies.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Minister of Planning chairs a ministerial meeting to review the federal general budget schedules for 2024


Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, Muhammad Ali Tamim, chaired today, Wednesday, a meeting of the committee concerned with reviewing the schedules of the federal general budget for the year 2024.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul-Ghani, Minister of Construction, Housing and Municipalities Benkin Rikani, Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel, Head of the Financial Supervision Bureau, Ammar Sobhi, advisors to the Prime Minister for legal, economic and strategic affairs, and the head of the legal department in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

During the meeting, a number of files on the agenda were discussed, including a discussion of the mechanism for transferring the allocations of the Kurdistan Regional Government within the budget tables, especially with regard to employee compensation, social care, and regional government revenues, and the mechanism for handing them over to the federal government according to what was stated in th
e decision of the Federal Court and the Financial Management Law and the state’s general budget law.

According to a statement by his media office, the meeting also discussed maximizing revenues to reduce the percentage of the deficit contained in the general budget by creating legal texts to include electricity sales and local oil sales as revenues in the budget tables.

The delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government participated in the meeting, which included the Minister of Finance, the head of the Regional Council’s office, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the head of the Coordination and Follow-up Department.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

MIKATI ARRIVES IN BAHRAIN TO PARTAKE IN ARAB SUMMIT


Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Wednesday arrived in Bahrain, at the head of a ministerial delegation, to participate in the 33rd regular session of the Arab League Council meeting at the summit level.

The Lebanese delegation to the summit includes the Caretaker Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Dr. Abdullah Bou Habib, National Education and Higher Education Abbas Halabi, Infirmation Ziad Makary, and Agriculture Abbas Hajj Hassan.

The Prime Minister and the Lebanese delegation were received at Bahrain International Airport by the representative of the King of Bahrain for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the head of the honorary mission, Ali Khaled Al-Arifi, the Lebanese Ambassador to the Arab League, Ali Al-Halabi, and the ChargĂ© d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mirna Khouli.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon