Category: Politics

Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, on Tuesday met at his Yarzeh office, with the Chairman of the Housing Bank Board of Directors, Antoine Habib.

Discussions touched on the Housing Bank’s activities and current conditions.

Caretaker Minister Sleem later met with former MP Mansour Ghanem Al-Bon, with whom he held a tour d’horizon on the current situation.

Sleem also received the Director General of Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, Dr. Marwan Najjar, and Dr. Nader Al-Gharib, who briefed the Minister on the hospital’s conditions and the existing cooperation with the military medicine.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al-Bukhari, on Tuesday visited House Speaker, Nabih Berri, at the latter’s Ain El-Tineh residence.

The meeting delved into the key political developments at both the Lebanese and regional levels, as announced by the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Deputy House Speaker, Elias Bou Saab, on Tuesday met in his office at the Parliament, with UK Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, accompanied by the Embassy’s Political Advisor.

Discussions reportedly touched on the overall general situation on the internal arena, as well as on the recent developments resulting from the war on Gaza and the repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

During the meeting, Bou Saab stressed that, “The only solution is to continue exerting diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and move to a stage that guarantees security and political stability in the future.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, has arrived at the second presidency headquarters in Ain El-Tineh, where he is set to meet with House Speaker, Nabih Berri.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday met with Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Al-Hajjar, at the Grand Serail.

On emerging, Al-Hajjar said, “We continued our discussion on two key matters. The first pertains to the ‘Aman’ program and overcoming the hurdle related to the parliament’s issued text regarding the project amendment. We are on the path to a solution, and what the PM has proposed will be acceptable. The necessary points will be prepared in the coming week.”

Regarding the issue of the most impoverished families, Al-Hajjar said that he had presented a proposal for the year 2024, over which an agreement has been reached on the required mechanism.

“The proposal will be sent to donor countries for implementation in 2024. In the coming days, the payment mechanism for the most impoverished families will be clarified,’ he added.

European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, was also received by the Prime Minister.

The EU diplomat briefed Mikati on the preparations und
erway for the eighth conference on Syrian refugees in Brussels.

Additionally, the Prime Minister met with Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekian, with whom he discussed bilateral relations.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Industry, George Boujikian, on Tuesday welcomed the Algerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Rachid Belbaki. Discussions between the pair revolved around the close ties between Lebanon and Algeria, emphasizing the strong bond between both peoples.

For his part, Boujikian highlighted “the significance of Algeria’s step in resuming direct flight operations between the two countries,” considering it a gateway for Lebanese citizens to Africa. He expressed belief that this move would facilitate communication, travel, and trade between Algeria and Arab countries through Lebanon.

Both officials emphasized that such initiatives contributed to enhancing partnerships between initiators and investors in both countries, with the added benefit of organizing exhibitions and encouraging participation.

In turn, Ambassador Belbaki briefed Minister Boujikian on the preparations underway for organizing the SIAG exhibition in the city of Oran, the second-largest city in Algeria after the capital.

The exhibition
is dedicated to food industry.

Boujikian commended these efforts and expressed his encouragement for Lebanese industrialists to participate in this event.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

On the first day of his official visit to New York, Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, held a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

The Russian minister expressed gratitude for Lebanon’s balanced stance on the Ukrainian conflict. Both ministers emphasized the importance of respecting human rights in all conflicts and avoiding double standards.

The pair also discussed provocations faced by Lebanon and attempts to draw it into war. They underscored the significance of Palestinian unity to achieve an independent Palestinian state. Additionally, during a meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, he conveyed Algeria’s support for Lebanon and its standing by Lebanon and the Palestinian cause.

‘Algeria, representing the Arab voice in the UN Security Council, aims to restore rights to their rightful owners,’ Attaf said.

Both ministers agreed on the importance of U.S. pressure on Israel to accept a peaceful solution to the conflict in accordance with
international legitimacy.

Minister Bou Habib also met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, with whom he discussed the situation in the Middle East. Both ministers emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution in Gaza.

Minister Bou Habib thanked his Indonesian counterpart for the constructive role played by the Indonesian contingent within UNIFIL, the largest contingent today, expressing Lebanon’s commitment to its work and safety.

During a lecture at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Minister Bou Habib outlined Lebanon’s supportive stance for restoring calm and security to south Lebanon by Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, particularly the Shebaa Farms, and an end to violations.

Bou Habib highlighted Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s request during the Geneva conference for the UNHCR to initiate pilot programs for the safe return of Syrians to their villages, as their continued presence in Lebanon threatens regional security and stabilit
y.

In conclusion, Minister Bou Habib met with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hussein Amir Abdollahian, emphasizing the necessity of stopping the war and its dangerous implications for the Middle East. The Iranian minister briefed his Lebanese counterpart on political communications and Iran’s initiative to end the conflict.

In the evening, Minister Bou Habib attended a dinner invitation by the Foreign Minister of Norway, along with the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Algeria, and heads of diplomatic missions to the United Nations in New York.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, is currently meeting with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Walid Al-Bukhari, at the second presidential residence in Ain El-Tineh.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday met at the Grand Serail with Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Hajjar.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Information Minister, Ziad Makary, delivered a speech on behalf of Lebanon at the opening of the “Operation Truth” forum in the Cuban capital, Havana. The event was attended by a significant number of influential political and media figures from over 30 countries.

Makary commenced his address with a salute to the resilient and revolutionary spirit of the Cuban people, emphasizing their steadfastness as an inspiring example of the power of nations to triumph with determination and national spirit.

Makary then remarked on the “Operation Truth” initiative, launched by Cuban President Fidel Castro 65 years ago, ‘as perhaps the first comprehensive media plan to combat fake news, especially prevalent during conflicts such as the Gaza war, where the Israeli enemy’s media deliberately distorts global public opinion with its false narratives since the very onset of the conflict.

“The Gaza war demonstrated that truth is a fundamental weapon in resisting Israel’s crimes,’ Makary added.

The Minister went o
n to highlight the sacrifices of Lebanese and Palestinian media during the Gaza war, acknowledging the strength and activism of the Israeli propaganda machine. He underscored the existence of a resilient and effective resistance media exposing falsehoods.

“Resistance media is the most potent weapon in the Gaza war, and it is no coincidence that we gather here in Havana to discuss the effectiveness and importance of media in critical junctures, while the war against Gaza and its steadfast people continues for over a hundred days,’ Makary said, calling for a comprehensive confrontation with the Israeli occupier on military, political, economic, and social fronts.

Makary also extended his greetings to the resilient Palestinian people and saluted South Lebanon, which witnesses daily confrontations and resistance.

Addressing Lebanese-Cuban relations, Makary expressed pride in the historical and distinctive ties between Lebanon and Cuba, emphasizing the need for improvement and development across all sectors, in
cluding political, economic, cultural, educational, and tourism.

The Information Minister called for increased collaboration in the media field and noted Cuba’s establishment of several journalistic institutions dedicated to the Lebanese community, keeping them informed about news from their homeland.

The Minister then expressed hope that the Lebanese community in Cuba would serve as a catalyst for enhancing political, tourist, economic, cultural, and scientific relations between the two countries. He affirmed Lebanon’s readiness to exert all efforts to develop relations with Cuba, citing the opportune moment for such initiatives.

“62 years of the blockade on Cuba, and despite all these years, it remains a country resisting culturally, scientifically, artistically, literarily, medically, and engineering-wise to prevent the downfall and humiliation of its people. Those who resist remain victorious!” Makary concluded.

Minister Makary had the opportunity to meet with the President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel,
and several government officials during the forum, which convened in Havana at the invitation of “Prensa Latina” agency and “Al Mayadeen” news channel.

The event garnered significant interest from the Cuban government and drew political and media participants from over thirty countries worldwide.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Internal Security Forces (ISF) chief, General Imad Othman, on Tuesday received in his office, a delegation representing the Press Syndicate Council, headed by its Dean Awni El-Kaaki, who came on a visit during which general topics were discussed.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Monday received at his Yarzeh office, the Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Craig MacLachlan, accompanied by Australian Ambassador to Lebanon, Andrew Barnes.

Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation in the country.

Maj. Gen. Aoun also received in his office, the Argentinean Ambassador to Lebanon, Maria Virginia Ruiz Quintar, who paid him an acquaintance visit upon assuming her mission in the country.

The army chief also received in his office, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, and they discussed affairs of Lebanon and the region.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon