Day: August 9, 2024

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday held a meeting with Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, at the Grand Serail. Following the meeting, Minister Bou Habib said that he had provided an update to the PM on his recent visit to Egypt, during which he secured unconditional support for Lebanon and emphasized the importance of ending the war in Lebanon, which is intrinsically linked to the conflict in Gaza. However, he stressed that Lebanon's peace remains the priority. 'The discussions also covered the extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate,' Bou Habib added, confirming that Lebanon has agreed to the first draft of the extension, with only minor amendments, and expressed hope that the extension would be finalized within the month, securing another year for UNIFIL's operations. Additionally, Minister Bou Habib revealed that Lebanon would be sending a message to ambassadors outlining the country's core principles regarding foreig n policy, particularly in light of the ongoing events in Gaza and southern Lebanon. The Foreign Minister further highlighted a joint American-Egyptian-Qatari initiative to convene a meeting on August 15 aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. 'The Lebanese government fully supports the joint statement issued by U.S. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The statement calls for immediate relief for the people of Gaza and the release of hostages, recognizing the immense suffering endured by both Palestinians and hostages' families,' Bou Habib stated. Moreover, the Foreign Minister praised the leaders' efforts in crafting a framework agreement and emphasized Lebanon's endorsement of the principles laid out by President Biden and enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 2735. 'The Lebanese government urges all parties to expedite the release of hostages, commence the ceasefire, and implement the agreement without delay,' Bou Habib add ed, announcing Lebanon's support for resuming urgent discussions on August 15 in Doha or Cairo to finalize and enact the agreement. Bou Habib finally called for decisive action to fulfill commitments, restore peace, and provide assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict, with the ultimate goal of restoring calm to the region Source : National news agency - Lebanon

Najib Mikati, on Friday met with Caretaker Education Minister, Abbas Halabi, with whom he reviewed the recent completion of official examinations and discussed upcoming educational challenges. Minister Halabi informed the Prime Minister of the need to have the cabinet pass a decree for another round of official exams scheduled to run from Saturday, August 24, to August 28 or 29, depending on the candidates' chosen branch. The meeting also addressed the challenges facing the Ministry of Education as the new school year approaches, particularly in light of the situation in southern Lebanon and its potential impact on school infrastructure. Additionally, discussions covered issues related to the Lebanese University and the upcoming academic year. Minister Halabi expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister's support for the education sector. Mikati later met with Minister of Industry, George Boujikian, with whom he discussed the latest developments in the industrial sector. Minister Boujikian provided an updat e on ongoing efforts, particularly focusing on agricultural-industrial integration and food security. He emphasized the government's commitment to these critical areas, which are essential for the country's stability. Boujikian also expressed strong support for the decisions made by the government regarding the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He also underscored the importance of executing the resolution in its entirety, stating that its proper implementation is crucial for the benefit of Lebanon and the broader region. Source : National news agency - Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday met with Caretaker Education Minister, Abbas Halabi, with whom he reviewed the recent completion of official examinations and discussed upcoming educational challenges. Minister Halabi informed the Prime Minister of the need to have the cabinet pass a decree for another round of official exams scheduled to run from Saturday, August 24, to August 28 or 29, depending on the candidates' chosen branch. The meeting also addressed the challenges facing the Ministry of Education as the new school year approaches, particularly in light of the situation in southern Lebanon and its potential impact on school infrastructure. Additionally, discussions covered issues related to the Lebanese University and the upcoming academic year. Minister Halabi expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister's support for the education sector. Source : National news agency - Lebanon

The Lebanese government welcomed the joint statement by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United States of America, which stressed "the need to put an immediate end to the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, reach a ceasefire, and conclude an agreement to release hostages and detainees, and called on the two parties to the conflict to resume urgent discussions to overcome the remaining obstacles to reaching the desired agreement." The Lebanese government stressed that what was included in the statement of the three leaders embodies Lebanon's vision for reducing escalation in the region and defusing the outbreak of a comprehensive regional war, based on a basic first step, which is the immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 2735 based on the initiative of US President Joe Biden. While thanking the leaders of the three countries for the "great efforts they are making to stop the cycle of violence in the region," the Lebanese government st ressed the "need to exert maximum pressure on Israel to oblige it to sit at the negotiating table and implement Security Council Resolution 2735, without any delay, as it is the party that seeks escalation and places obstacles in the way of reaching an agreement to cease fire in Gaza." Source : National news agency - Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdullah Bou Habib, on Friday discussed in a phone call he received from his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, "the ongoing efforts to stop the cycle of violence in Lebanon, Gaza and the region, the latest of which was the joint statement by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United States of America calling on Israel and Hamas to sit at the negotiating table to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza." Minister Bou Habib stressed the "necessity of stopping the Israeli aggression on Gaza, as it is the key to calming the situation in southern Lebanon, halting the blatant Israeli attacks, and avoiding the conflict from spiraling into a comprehensive regional war." Minister Bou Habib thanked "Brazil for its supportive stances towards Lebanon and its solidarity with it in the face of Israeli attacks." Source : National news agency - Lebanon