Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, on Tuesday met at his Yarzeh office, MP Qassem Hashem.
Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation and developments in the country.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Makary tackles refugee affairs, media coordination with UNRWA Director in Lebanon
Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, on Tuesday met with UNRWA Director in Lebanon, Dorothy Klaus.
Discussions between the pair reportedly focused on the country’s general conditions, particularly the situation of refugees and media coordination between the ministry and the organization.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Berri meets with professional syndicate leaders from Tripoli and North Lebanon
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Tuesday received leaders of professional syndicates from Tripoli and North Lebanon at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain al-Tineh.
The delegation included Engineers Syndicate President Shawki Fatfat, Lawyers Syndicate President Sami Al-Hassan, Physicians Syndicate President Dr. Mohammad Safi, and Dentists Syndicate President Dr. Nazem Al-Haffar.
The meeting reportedly discussed the general conditions and syndicate-related matters, especially issues concerning the funds of engineers, lawyers, physicians, and dentists syndicates, as well as depositors’ rights.
Additionally, Speaker Berri met with Deputy Head of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Spanish Official Praises ‘Constant’ Security Cooperation with Morocco
Madrid – Manuel Navarrete, the director of Spain’s Center for Intelligence Against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO), has praised the ongoing collaboration between Spain and Morocco in the realm of security. Speaking on the 10th anniversary of CITCO, Navarrete emphasized the strength and consistency of the partnership.
‘The cooperation between the Police, the Guardia Civil [Civil Guard], and Spanish security forces, in general, with their Moroccan counterparts is very good and constant,’ Navarrete stated in a press conference.
He further underscored that this collaboration is crucial in addressing a range of security threats, including organized crime, terrorism, and irregular immigration.
Navarrete highlighted the particular importance of joint efforts in combating irregular immigration. ‘The fight against irregular immigration is a key area of this sustained bilateral cooperation,’ he noted.
The Spanish official also pointed out that the model of cooperation established with Morocco is significant a
nd should be replicated with other nations.
Source : Agence Marocaine De Presse
Bou Habib urges immediate action against Israeli escalation in joint press conference with Egyptian Counterpart
In a joint press conference held on Tuesday at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo, Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, emphasized the detrimental impact of recent Israeli escalations on regional peace efforts.
Speaking alongside his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, Bou Habib criticized Israel’s actions, stating they undermine Egypt’s mediation efforts for de-escalation and disregard U.S. President Joe Biden’s ceasefire initiative and UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which endorsed the initiative.
‘The recent Israeli escalation in the region undermines Egypt’s ongoing efforts for de-escalation and blatantly disregards President Biden’s ceasefire initiative and Security Council Resolution 2735, reflecting Israel’s intentions to prolong the conflict and expand the war zone,” Bou Habib asserted, highlighting that the initial step towards de-escalation is the cessation of Israeli aggression on Gaza to protect the entire region from the repercussions of
a potential regional war.
“The expansion of the war is becoming a serious possibility if the international community and concerned nations do not act immediately and effectively to stop the war crimes committed by Israel,’ Bou Habib warned.
In his remarks, the Foreign Minister expressed Lebanon’s appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to mediate the conflict and its continued support for Lebanon amid recent developments. He called for sustained Egyptian and Arab support for Lebanon, particularly in the face of Israeli plans to widen the conflict.
Bou Habib further underscored Lebanon’s commitment to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territories and an end to violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
“We thank the Arab Republic of Egypt, led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, its government, and its people for their steadfast support for Lebanon, especially in light of the recent dangerous developments in the region,”
Bou Habib stated, assuring continued Egyptian support and highlighting Lebanon’s confidence in Egypt’s historical role in maintaining Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister finally reiterated Lebanon’s trust in Egypt’s efforts to preserve the country’s interests and ensure regional stability, underscoring the deep-rooted ties and unwavering support between the two nations throughout Lebanon’s challenging times.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Moroccan Sahara: Brazilian Political Analyst Commends ‘Wise’ French Position
Brasilia – France’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara, officially expressed by President Emmanuel Macron, is a “wise” decision, underlined Brazilian political analyst Marcus Vinicius de Freitas.
With this support, Paris “adopts a more decisive position to settle this dispute that has lasted for decades and which shall be resolved for greater prosperity and development in the region,” the expert in geopolitics and international relations told MAP.
With this new position, France follows in the footsteps of other countries, such as Spain and the United States, without forgetting the African countries that have opened diplomatic representations in the southern provinces.
“This is therefore a wise change in supporting Rabat’s position,” he said, stressing the imperative of a definitive settlement to this conflict for sustainable socio-economic development in the region.
In a message addressed to HM King Mohammed VI, French President Emmanuel Macron officially informed the Sovereign that he “con
siders that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”.
Macron also voiced France’s support to the Moroccan autonomy plan as ‘the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.’
Source : Agence Marocaine De Presse