Category: Government Policy

Acting Director General of General Security, Brigadier General Elias Baissari, on Monday received in his office, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Eddin Abdel Moneim Mohamed Moussa, with whom he discussed the general situation and developments on the regional arena.

Major General Baissari also met with the Head of the General Labor Confederation in Lebanon, Dr. Bechara Al-Asmar, accompanied by a delegation of the heads of the Beirut and Tripoli Ports’ Workers Unions. He discussed with them ways to facilitate their work within the framework of the mission of the GS General Directorate.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday met at the Grand Serail, with US Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, with whom he discussed the current developments and the situation in southern Lebanon and Gaza.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday received at the Second Presidency in Ain al-Tineh, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekyan, who conveyed to him a message from his Armenian counterpart, Alen Simonyan, in which he congratulated him on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day.

The visit was a chance to discuss the current general situation in Lebanon and the region.

Berri later received the World Bank Country Director for the Middle East Department, Jean-Christophe Carret, over cooperation between Lebanon and the World Bank, especially the social protection project.

Speaker Berri also received a delegation from Al-Qassar family, including Adel, Nabil and Nadim al-Qassar.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Information, Engineer Ziad Makary, on Monday received in his office at the Ministry, a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Lebanon, which included: Roy Chidiac from the ICRC’s Press Office, and the ICRC Lebanon’s Political Advisor, Shawki Amine Eddine.

On emerging, Eddine explained: “The visit came at the request of the Minister of Information, with the aim of coordinating preparations that are in line with the national emergency preparedness plan in Lebanon.’

He pointed out that they have identified 3 points that will be worked on in the future, including holding courses with the journalistic body in Lebanon with the aim of training them on international humanitarian law, how to protect themselves when covering armed conflicts on the ground, as well as their safety obligations.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Former Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, on Monday welcomed at his Mousaitbeh residence, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al-Bukhari.

The visit was an occasion during which the pair discussed the distinguished bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and the overall current developments that Lebanon is witnessing politically and economically, especially the presidential file, as well as the developments in the occupied territories and the attacks on the Gaza Strip, in addition to a number of issues of common interest.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Major General Abbas Ibrahim, on Monday received at his Beirut office, Brazilian Ambassador to Lebanon, Tarcisio Costa, accomapnied by the Embassy’s Second Secretary.

Discussions reportedly touched on the latest developments on the regional and international arena, as per a statement by Maj. Gen. Ibrahim’s press office.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Maronite Patriach Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday lamented the end of the truce in Gaza, decrying that ‘the innocent people are bearing the consequences of the destructive war.’

‘What is the meaning of the humanitarian truce if it will pave the way for a ferocious war after a break,’ al-Rahi wondered in his Sunday Mass sermon.

‘No one in Lebanon wants the spread of the war to the South and to our innocent Lebanese residents there. If, God forbid, it spreads to the South, no one would know where it would stop and the magnitude of victims and destruction it would leave, so we pray to God to keep it away from us,’ the patriarch added.

‘No one can force the Lebanese people to bear the burdens of a war in which they have nothing,’ al-Rahi went on to say.

The patriarch also said that ‘the failure to elect a president and the closure of the presidential palace are a blatant crime that is destroying state institutions and public administrations while spreading chaos and corruption and tarnishing Lebanon’s civilized fa
ce.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Prime Minister Najib Mikati met on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during their participation in the ‘Climate Summit’ (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Talks centered on the situation in Lebanon and Gaza and Egypt’s efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and reach a ceasefire, in preparation for returning to discussing a comprehensive solution that takes into account Palestinian rights.

PM Mikati also met in Dubai with the Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the French company – Total Energies, Patrick Poigner, in the presence of Caretaker Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayyad.

During the meeting, the periodic report prepared by ‘Total Energies’ was discussed regarding drilling and exploration for gas and oil in Lebanese territorial waters and the possibility of resuming drilling works in another location in Block 9.

Poigner pointed out that ‘this matter depends on the report regarding the results reached to-date.”

Talks during the encounter also
touched on the possibility of drilling in Blocks No. 8 and 10 and the two offers submitted by “Total Energies” to this effect.

The Prime Minister hoped “to speed up the submission of the report so that, in light of the results, the next steps can be discussed.”

Additionally, talks touched on the offer submitted by “Total Energies” and “Qatar Energies” regarding the generation of electricity on solar energy soon.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin continued his participation in the climate conference in Dubai, as part of the official delegation headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

The Minister discussed with the Director General of Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, Geert-Jan Koopmann, frameworks for cooperation between Lebanon and the European Commission in the environmental, economic and social fields and opportunities to increase cooperation in environmental projects that the European Union contributes to supporting.

Yassin and Koopmann also discussed the need for a new approach from the European Union on the return of displaced Syrians from Lebanon to their homes and to support its implementation.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, considers health a fundamental factor motivating the enhancement of a healthy climate and environment for the future of humanity.

He noted that the Lebanese delegation is active in addressing critical Lebanon-related issues.

In addition, Mikati stated that Lebanon will seek to benefit from the Loss and Damage Fund and contribute to developing green areas.

On the situation in Gaza, he said, “The resumption of fighting in Gaza is a source of concern for officials, and everyone is working to stabilize the ceasefire. This war will remain a stain on Israel.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon