Category: Politics

Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Thursday received at his Yarzeh office, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka.

Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation in the country and developments along the southern border.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Thursday received at the Second Presidency in Ain El-Tineh, Head of the economic bodies in Lebanon, former Minister Mohammad Choucair, with an accompanying delegation.

Discussions reportedly touched on the country’s socio-economic conditions.

Speaker Berri later received at Ain el-Tineh, former Minister Ghazi Al-Aridi, with whom he discussed the current political situation and field developments in light of Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and the massacres committed against civilians.

On the other hand, Berri called for a joint session by the Finance and Budget, Administration and Justice, National Economy, Trade, Industry, and Planning, Education and Higher Education, and Culture committees at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is to deliver a speech on Friday on the martyrdom anniversary of Hezbollah Leaders.

The Lebanese resistance leader will hold a televised address via Al-Manar at 15:00 on Friday, in a ceremony addressing the occasion.

The ceremony will be held simultaneously in Beirut’s Dahiyeh (southern suburb), Nabi Sheet, Jibshit and Teir Dibba.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is to deliver a speech on Friday on the martyrdom anniversary of Hezbollah Leaders.

The Lebanese resistance leader will hold a televised address via Al-Manar at 15:00 on Friday, in a ceremony addressing the occasion.

The ceremony will be held simultaneously in Beirut’s Dahiyeh (southern suburb), Nabi Sheet, Jibshit and Teir Dibba.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Beirut Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Elias Audeh, on Thursday received Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, with whom he discussed the current situation in the country.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Thursday has called for a joint session by the Finance and Budget, Administration and Justice, National Economy, Trade, Industry, and Planning, Education and Higher Education, and Culture committees at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Former Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, on Thursday welcomed several caretaker ministers at the Grand Serail.

Caretaker Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan expressed concern over Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, emphasizing the need for political consensus to elect a new president.

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin recalled late PM Rafik Hariri’s role in protecting Lebanon amid Israeli aggressions.

Industry Minister George Boujikian and Tourism Minister Walid Nassar also discussed pertinent issues during their meetings with Hariri.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Thursday condemned the massacre perpetrated by Israel last night in the city of Nabatieh, resulting in the loss of over 10 martyrs and a large number of wounded, most of whom were women and children. “Another massacre added by the political and military echelons of the Israeli entity to its long record of murder, terrorism, and genocidal wars through the cowardly aggression that targeted the innocent in the city of Nabatieh,’ Berri said.

“The premeditated and calculated nature of this massacre indicates the aggressive and racist nature of this enemy, whose antagonism towards humanity is no longer concealed. Its declared and covert targets are civilians and all the vital elements of life in our homeland and region,’ Berri added.

“The blood shed in Nabatieh, and prior to that in Hula, Al-Souwaneh, and Adaisseh, is a call to action for international envoys, the United Nations, and human rights organizations. Not merely to condemn, but to urgently and immediately act to sto
p the Israeli killing machine and restrain the leaders of the occupation entity who are pushing the region towards a war with dire consequences,’ Berri added.

“May mercy be upon the martyrs, deepest condolences to their families, and prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded,’ Berri concluded.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Thursday vehemently condemned the “escalating Israeli enemy’s aggression in southern Lebanon and the new massacres it’s committing against Lebanese citizens, especially the events that occurred last night in Nabatieh, where seven members of one family were martyred in the Israeli shelling.”

“In the face of the enemy’s escalation and the loss of martyrs and the massive destruction it causes, I consulted with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Abdullah Bou Habib, about the situation and requested the urgent submission of a new complaint against Israel to the United Nations Security Council,’ Mikati said.

“While we emphasize the need for calm and call on all parties to commit to de-escalation, we find the Israeli enemy persisting in its aggression, prompting us to question the international stakeholders about the steps taken to restrain the enemy,’ the PM added.

In conclusion, he said, “Given the escalation of aggression, I have requested the Minister o
f Environment to convene an urgent meeting of the National Emergency Committee to monitor the situation. I have also been briefed by the Minister of Health on the health and hospital situation in the south, and the urgent measures taken.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Thursday vehemently condemned the “escalating Israeli enemy’s aggression in southern Lebanon and the new massacres it’s committing against Lebanese citizens, especially the events that occurred last night in Nabatieh, where seven members of one family were martyred in the Israeli shelling.”

“In the face of the enemy’s escalation and the loss of martyrs and the massive destruction it causes, I consulted with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Abdullah Bou Habib, about the situation and requested the urgent submission of a new complaint against Israel to the United Nations Security Council,’ Mikati said.

“While we emphasize the need for calm and call on all parties to commit to de-escalation, we find the Israeli enemy persisting in its aggression, prompting us to question the international stakeholders about the steps taken to restrain the enemy,’ the PM added.

In conclusion, he said, “Given the escalation of aggression, I have requested the Minister o
f Environment to convene an urgent meeting of the National Emergency Committee to monitor the situation. I have also been briefed by the Minister of Health on the health and hospital situation in the south, and the urgent measures taken.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The 4th round of the political consultations session between the Sultanate of Oman and the European Union (EU) was held in Brussels today.

The Omani side was chaired by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, whilst the EU side was chaired by Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs.

During the session, the two sides discussed relations and affirmed to continue promoting joint cooperation in various areas.

They also touched on a set of regional and international issues of common concern, including the repercussions of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. In this context, the two sides stressed the importance of backing political endeavors and efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and delivering the humanitarian aid.

It is worth mentioning that these consultations comes within the framework of the cooperation arrangements signed in 2018 between Oman and the EU, which reflect the commitment of both sides to enhancing cooperation and mutual
understanding in light of the current challenges on the international arena.

The session was attended by Ambassador Munthir Mahfoud Al Manthri, Head of Europe Department, Ambassador Rua’a Issa Al Zadjali, Head of Oman’s Mission to the EU and a number of officials from both sides.

Source: Oman News Agency

Former MP Hassan Yaqoub believed that the return of former President Saad Hariri this year is a message to regional powers, especially Saudi Arabia.

“The expected popular attendance and welcome by political forces [for former PM Saad Hariri] this year is a message to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to re-accredit Hariri politically in Lebanon in the next post-settlement phase after the unjust war on Gaza,” Yaacoub said.

The MP added: “The irony is that the obstacle to this stage is Netanyahu’s madness, which is breathing down his neck from the continuation of the war, the end of which will be the end of his political career.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Lebanese parliamentary delegation, comprising of Foreign and Emigrants Affairs Committee Chair, MP Fadi Alama, and MPs Salim al-Sayegh, Simon Abi Ramia and Elias al-Khoury, pursued Wednesday their visit to Brussels to discuss the prevailing situation in Lebanon with senior European officials.

In this context, the delegation met with the European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Affairs Policy, Janez Lenarcic, followed by a meeting with the President of the General Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, Cypriot MP Costas Mavritis.

The delegation also held a meeting with the Director General of the Middle East Department at the Belgian Foreign Ministry, Hubert Koormans.

A parliamentary session was later held in the presence of each of the MPs, Chair of the Levant Committee in the European Parliament, Isabel Santos, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee in Parliament, Udo Bullman, and members of his parliamentary team. This was followed by a meeting with MP Christophe Grudl
er, Lebanon’s rapporteur in the “Renew Europe” party, which is close to French President Emmanuel Macron.

The delegation touched on the prominent Lebanese dossiers, particularly pertaining to the serious repercussions of the Syrian displacement to Lebanon from the economic, social, security and financial aspects and the existential threat at the level of the diverse Lebanese structure.

In this connection, the delegation cautioned against the threats of this dossier and called on the Europeans to adopt a creative policy that supports the return of the displaced to Syria and to help them in their country, especially since the majority periodically return to their home country despite having a refugee card from UNHCR, which implies that they no longer hold the status of political refugees due to their repeated return to Syria, but are actually “economic refugees’ as they continue to receive financial support from international institutions.

“Lebanon, with its geography, area, and pluralism, cannot accept the
continuation of displacement indefinitely, as the international community must take immediate measures to contribute to the rapid return of displaced Syrians to their country,” the Lebanese delegation members underlined.

They also touched on the ongoing conflict in the region as a result of the Gaza War and reiterated the official Lebanese position based on respect for international resolutions and the resolutions of Arab summit conferences. They called for respecting the rights of the Palestinian people, the first of which is their right to an independent state, in addition to emphasizing respect for Resolution 1701 with regard to Lebanon and stopping the repeated Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and ensuring the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Lebanese territories it occupies.

On a different note, the Lebanese delegation focused in its meetings with European representatives on the need for countries to reverse their decision of halting UNRWA funding, as this leads to more social and dail
y-living crises for Palestinian refugees, especially in Lebanon.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon