Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday met at the Grand Serail with Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib.
In the wake of the meeting, Bou Habib said, ‘We’ve discussed the situation in southern Lebanon in line with the ongoing efforts. Over the weekend, I met with the EU Foreign Minister, with whom I discussed the situation in southern Lebanon. I will also meet the German Foreign Minister over the same matter.’
‘The United States has delegated Amos Hochstein to monitor the situation. If positive developments occur, he will visit Lebanon later. We have informed everyone that Lebanon is ready to implement Resolution 1701 in its entirety, meaning that Israel must fully withdraw from all the Lebanese territories, and stop its land, sea, and air violations. If these conditions are met, Lebanon shall have no problem with the full implementation of 1701 – and this is what the Lebanese government has conveyed to everyone,’ Bou Habib added, noting that ‘Ministers of Fore
ign Affairs from some countries may visit Lebanon, and we will announce them at the appropriate time.’
Prime Minister Mikati separately welcomed former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Defense, Elias Murr, who said on emerging that his visit to Premier Mikati was protocol-related upon his return to Lebanon after resigning from his position at the Interpol in Geneva.
Additionally, Mikati welcomed a delegation from the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait, led by Dr. Abdullah Fahad Al-Shami.
Al-Shami said after the meeting, “We presented general issues, particularly political ones, and their implications on the Arab region. We discussed the growth rates achieved by the Lebanese government over the past year. Hopefully, Lebanon is beginning to regain its economic balance. There are positive opportunities mentioned by the Prime Minister and new economic balances in Lebanon. The economic correction has started, which is a good indicator compared to the crisis of previous years. Today, we aspire t
o a general political stability that leads to economic stability because Lebanon deserves the best. Hopefully, the government fulfills its duties, and recovery requires patience as Lebanon is in the recovery phase.”
Regarding future projects of the institute, Al-Shami added, “We have projects with the ‘Al-Azm wa Saada Social Association.’ We are launching initiatives to assist entrepreneurs in Lebanon because the primary role of the institute is to develop capacities in all Arab countries.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon