Category: Politics

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Thursday welcomed at the Grand Serail a French delegation comprising Frédéric Mondoloni, Director General of Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alice Rufo, Director General of International and Strategic Relations at the Ministry of Defense, and French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro.

Also present at the meeting was the diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Mikati, Ambassador Boutros Assaker.

Ambassador Magro noted that “the visit follows the one by French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, during which we presented our ideas regarding the situation in southern Lebanon.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Retired military personnel have begun gathering at Martyrs’ Square in Beirut to participate in protests organized by the Retired Military Personnel Association, our reporter said on Thursday.

The protests aim to block the roads leading to the Council of Ministers and its entrances, preventing it from convening to achieve “justice and fairness” for them.

The numbers of retired military personnel have been steadily increasing as they assemble at the entrances of the Grand Serail, amid stringent security measures.

The assembly reiterated its demand to the government ‘not to procrastinate or delay in addressing the issue of wage raises, and to prioritize it as the first item on the agenda of the Cabinet session, following the formulation of raise decrees in accordance with the legal readings issued by the legal platform defending the rights of retired military personnel in all its aspects.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

VIENNA: heikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, received Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF), where they discussed several issues of common interest.

During the meeting which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Shakhboot expressed the UAE’s firm commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation with Francophonie countries across various fields.

Mushikiwabo reviewed the bilateral ties between the UAE and the IOF, as well as ways of developing and reinforcing them in various realms. Furthermore, both sides exchanged views and opinions on various regional issues.

Source: Emirates News Agency

RIYADH: The Saudi Foreign Affairs confirmed that the position of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been steadfast on the Palestinian issue and the necessity that the brotherly Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that was published on the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), in which it said that Saudi Arabia will not have diplomatic relations with Israel without an independent Palestinian state.

“Regarding the discussions between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America on the Arab-Israeli peace process, and in light of what has been attributed to the U.S. National Security Spokesperson, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the position of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been steadfast on the Palestinian issue and the necessity that the brotherly Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights,” the statement said.

“The Kingdom has communicated its firm position to the U.S. administration that there will be no di
plomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip.”

“The Kingdom reiterates its call to the permanent members of the UN Security Council that have not yet recognized the Palestinian state, to expedite the recognition of the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, so that the Palestinian people can obtain their legitimate rights and so that a comprehensive and just peace is achieved for all,” the statement concluded.

Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA

JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the announcement made by the President of Argentina regarding his intention to move his country’s embassy to Occupied Jerusalem.

OIC stressed that such a move is a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, in particular Security Council resolution 478 calling on states that have established their diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to relocate them from the Holy City.

The OIC also highlighted that this illegal move is a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people.

It called on Argentina not to proceed with the move and to respect its commitments under the international legitimacy resolution on preserving the legal and historical character of Jerusalem as an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

The OIC also called on Argentina to take steps that support stability and peace and are underpinned by the two-state vision, said OIC in a statement.

Source: Palestine news and Infor
mation Agency – WAFA