Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri tweeted today on the loss of Lebanese Engineer Samir Al-Khatib, saying: “With the passing of Engineer Samir Al-Khatib, I lost a great friend, and Lebanon lost a man whose fingerprints are attested by the various Lebanese regions. I ask God Almighty in this holy month to rest his soul in His vast gardens and to grant his family patience and solace…We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Caretaker Minister of Energy and Water, Dr. Walid Fayyad, concluded today his visit to New York, where he delivered Lebanon’s official speech at the Water Conference that was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York between March 22 and 24, 2023. On the last day of the conference, Fayyad had valuable interventions as a keynote speaker in an interactive dialogue on “cross-border cooperation, international cooperation, and cross-sectoral cooperation in the water field, including scientific cooperation”. Additionally, Fayyad participated in two sideline events, the first organized by the League of Arab States and ESCWA under the headline, ‘The Joint Commitment of the Arab Region to Accelerate the Achievement of Water Security for Sustainable Development’, and the second organized by the Egyptian Republic under the headline: ‘From COP27 to the United Nations Water Conference 2023: Action on Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARe) Changing the Rules of the Game in the Water Action Agenda’. He also attended a side event organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, in partnership with the World Bank, the World Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Development Program, entitled: “Water for Sustainable Development – The Saudi Experience”; in addition to another side event patronized by the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Linda Adams, and the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, under the headline: “Stronger through Water”, which included speakers from the US federal government and the local government of New York City, and focused on reviewing local and international initiatives in the field of water security. According to an issued statement, the interventions of Minister Fayyad focused on the Lebanese national concern and the economic and social sufferings that Lebanon is going through, explaining the situation in a scientific and objective way with the aim of helping to reach the desired solutions as soon as possible, and through the best means leading to the return of advancement to the country’s various sectors. Fayyad also touched on the technical side of water issues and related technologies and scientific research, without neglecting the geopolitical dimension of the region and the challenges facing cross-border cooperation in the field of water. ‘Countries using water diplomacy can help prevent conflicts and create an environment for peaceful and constructive cooperation in the management of shared water resources,” Fayyad underlined, adding that “diplomatic tools such as bilateral and multilateral agreements, negotiation and mediation, can actually help improve transparency and trust between countries, facilitate the exchange of data and explore the potential for mutual benefits, thus fostering joint cooperation and partnership.” He emphasized in his delivered words that the “main principles of water diplomacy include the sustainable development of water resources, collaborative and participatory decision-making processes, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.” “We must continue our efforts to encourage transboundary water cooperation and strengthen water diplomacy. Through our collective efforts, we can create sustainable solutions to manage this precious resource, ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of all who depend on it, now and in the future,” Fayyad maintained. On water security, Fayyad highlighted three main factors in this regard, which revolve around the availability of water, its price and cost, as well as its sustainability. Fayyad also praised the conclusions of the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, which placed water at the center of the climate change agenda and its narratives, and welcomed “Egypt’s initiative to propose the appointment of a UN envoy on water issues and the establishment of a new center at the United Nations for this purpose, which would activate water diplomacy.” Finally, Fayyad expressed Lebanon’s aspiration to build on the outcome of the Sharm el-Sheikh conference and to participate in the upcoming COP28 to be held in the United Arab Emirates.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Jordanian Agriculture Minister Khaled al-Hanifat on Saturday arrives to Nassib border crossing to participate in the 4th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan in tomorrow in Damascus.
The meeting aims to achieve integration between the four countries, sign a memorandum of understanding that will contribute to facilitating the flow of goods between them and achieve food security for the Arab citizen, al-Hanifat said in press conference at Nassib border crossing.
Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Eng. Mohammad Hassan Qatana , in turn, underlined the importance of integration of agricultural policies to ensure the facilitation of commodity exchanges.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
Under the slogan “Towards Achieving Agricultural Economic Integration at the Regional Level”, the activities of the 4th quartet meeting of the agriculture Ministers of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan will start on Sunday at Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus.
In the meeting , The ministers will discuss ways to boost trade exchange and food security, mechanisms to support regional projects, address climate challenges and land degradation, and improve agricultural production in the four countries.
The previous quadripartite meetings were held during the past year three times, in Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
An earthquake measuring 4.5 degrees on the Richter scale struck southern Turkey on Saturday morning.
Anatolia News Agency said that according to data publish on the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), website, the center of the earthquake is Akin Ozu district in Kahramanmaras Province, at a depth of 7 kilometers.
In the same context, another earthquake, measuring 4.2 degrees on the Richter scale, hit Kahramanmaras, and its epicenter in Gokson district at a depth of 9.44 kilometers.
According to the News Agency no casualties or damages were reported due to the two quakes.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
A weak earthquake Saturday struck northwest of Aleppo with a magnitude of 3.1 on the Richter scale.
The National Earthquake Center posted on Facebook page that the earthquake occurred at 15:55 p.m. , 65 km northwest of Aleppo.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
