Minister of Information Paul Morcos announced at the end of the Cabinet session that President Joseph Aoun described his recent meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as “excellent. Qatar expressed strong interest in increasing its investments in the country.
Coordination with Jordan on Reform Progress
Morcos revealed that President Aoun had a phone call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to congratulate him on Jordan’s achievements in legislative reform. The two leaders also discussed the latest two reform laws passed by the Lebanese Parliament, which are seen as major steps in Lebanon’s efforts toward recovery and transparency.
Upcoming Qatari Visit
A Qatari delegation is expected to visit Lebanon next week to explore possible support in the electricity sector. Lebanon is actively seeking Qatari assistance to improve this essential service, which remains one of the country’s most pressing infrastructure challenges.
Turning to regional issues, Morcos highlighted Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s visit to Syria. The talks addressed several critical files: the extradition of suspects involved in the Tripoli mosque bombings, investigations into the assassinations of Kamal Jumblatt and President Bashir Gemayel, border control, anti-smuggling efforts, and the fate of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons. The massive Beirut port explosion was also discussed during the meeting with Syrian President Ahmad Shar’. In a move to ensure stability in the country’s southern region, the Cabinet decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This step underscores Lebanon’s commitment to maintaining peace along its border with Israel.
Updates on the School Year and Exams
Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, announced that following the Easter holiday, the ministry will issue decisions regarding official exams and the potential extension of the academic year. These steps aim to ensure students’ progress despite the country’s ongoing challenges.
President Joseph Aoun during the Cabinet session:
-He emphasized that the countries supporting Lebanon are focused on reform, and praised the government for completing the draft banking reform law, which he signed and referred to Parliament.
-He noted Speaker Nabih Berri’s urgency in discussing the banking reform law, saying it creates a new “positive shock” following a series of positive steps since the formation of the government.
-He also touched on the cell that was apprehended in Jordan, mentioning his call with King Abdullah II, the coordination between Lebanese and Jordanian intelligence, and the efforts of the Minister of Justice in this regard
-He thanked the government for completing two reform law drafts and wished the Minister of Finance success in his visit to the United States and meetings with the International Monetary Fund.
-He emphasized the need to finalize the draft law addressing the financial gap in a timely manner, noting that while “we are not responsible for the accumulated issues, we are responsible for solving them.”
-He touched on the appointments file, expressing hope that appointments at the Council for Development and Reconstruction would be completed soon, and called for the swift finalization of judicial and diplomatic appointments, urging the relevant ministers to be ready to proceed
