NNA - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met National Defense Minister, Maurice Sleem, today at the Presidential Palace.

Security affairs and the measures taken by the army to maintain security and stability were deliberated. 

The meeting also tackled life, health and educational needs of the Army, where Minister Sleem assured President Aoun that he is working to provide all the factors to improve the conditions of the Army and secure the necessary financial funds for this in order to alleviate the current economic burdens at a time when military personnel of various ranks continue to carry out their national duties and implement the security tasks assigned to them.

The latest data related to the on-going negotiations to demarcate the maritime and southern borders in light of the observations made by the Lebanese side on the offer made by the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, were also addressed, especially since these observations guarantee Lebanon’s rights to explore for oil and gas in the specified fields in the exclusive economic zone. These remarks also prevent any interpretations that do not apply to the framework set by Lebanon for the demarcation process and during the negotiations that lasted for months.

President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council:

The President received the President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Mr. Thierry Baudet, who is visiting Lebanon at the invitation of his Lebanese counterpart, the President of the Lebanese Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Charles Arbid.

The French Ambassador in Beirut, Mr. Anne Grillo, and the Counselor at the French Embassy, CHLOE BAUDREUX, in addition to Mr Arbid also attended the meeting. 

The Lebanese side included Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar, former Minister Salim Jreissati, Director General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, and AdvisorRafic Shelala.

At the beginning, President Aoun welcomed Mr. Baudet, thanking him for his visit to Lebanon in these delicate circumstances in which many of the economic, social and environmental difficulties should be addressed, focusing on the role played by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Lebanon, especially after amending the law created so that his presence would be effective and influential in the issues that the Lebanese state is working to address, especially after the developments that Lebanon witnessed during the past years. 

President Aoun also praised the strong relations between Lebanon and France in all fields, andpresented to Mr. Baudet the events that took place over the past years and brought the situation in Lebanon to what it is, including the Syrian exodus, which had repercussions on various sectors.

For his side, Mr. Baudet spoke thanking President Aoun for receiving him and presenting the most prominent tasks carried out by the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council in assisting the legislative and executive authorities in France, especially in laws of an economic, social, environmental and educational nature and the reforms that are introduced in these sectors. Baudet pointed out that cooperation exists with the Lebanese Economic Council to assist in everything that can activate its role and tasks.

On the other hand, Mr. Arbid also thanked the President for the role he played in amending the law establishing the Economic Council in Lebanon, which led to the development of its work and the expansion of its tasks, pointing out that there is a lot of work in the areas of poverty, migration and displaced Syrians, in addition to economic and social issues that directly affect Lebanese society. Arbid pointed out that the council is currently studying concluding an agreement with the French Council to activate the work dynamics from the core of the tasks entrusted to it.

A discussion took place, between President Aoun, Messrs’ Baudet, Arbid, Ambassador Grillo, Minister Hajjar and former Minister Jreissati.

Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of the Public Housing Corporation:

The President met the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Public Establishment for Housing, Engineer Roni Lahoud.

Mr. Lahoud thanked President Aoun for approving the institution’s official owning and the system of procedure in it after 26 years of waiting, and briefed him on the work that the institution is doing in terms of citizens closing previous loans. 

Mr. Lahoud also pointed out that during a year and a half, the number of files that were closed reached 19 thousand file of which 7,000 were completed so far. 

Finally, Eng. Lahoud confirmed that the loans are repaid in Lebanese Lira, in accordance with the agreement concluded between the institution and the borrowing bank. -- Presidency Press Office

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