NNA – Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday convened with Caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, at the Grand Serail. Talks between both men reportedly reviewed the outcomes of Mikati's visit to France and his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Additionally, Mikati met with Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon, Stephanie McCollum, with whom he discussed the outcome of his recent visit to France. Talks between the pair also emphasized the importance of stability in southern Lebanon and the urgent need to elect a president.
Mikati also welcomed Agricultural Minister, Abbas Hajj Hassan, who said after the meeting that Mikati had been briefed on the latest developments regarding Israeli attacks on the agricultural sector in southern Lebanon.
Hajj Hassan added that he had received Mikati's directives in this regard, as well as updates on projects in partnership with donor agencies and international organizations.
The minister also discussed with Mikati a plan developed by the Ministry of Agriculture to survey the damage to the agricultural sector once hostile Israeli operations cease.
Mikati separately welcomed a delegation from the "Democratic Gathering" bloc, including MPs Akram Chehayeb, Hadi Abu al-Hassan, and Faisal Sayegh. The meeting addressed several issues, most notably the Syrian refugee crisis.
“The Democratic Gathering and the Progressive Socialist Party MPs are preparing a specific paper containing practical proposals in consultation with the government and various political forces. They also requested the confirmation of the Cabinet's decision to increase the hours of electricity supply to villages around the Naameh landfill,” the Democratic Gathering delegation said on emerging, adding that discussions also focused on the need to renew the agreement between the World Bank and the Lebanese government to rehabilitate public roads, as well as provide the necessary funding to repair road damages caused by the storm.
Furthermore, Mikati met with Deputy Chief of the British Defense Staff, Harvey Smyth, who is currently on a tour in the region, in the presence of British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell. The meeting mainly discussed the situation in southern Lebanon, and the need to work on mitigating tension.
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