Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday visited Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, in the presence of Caretaker industry Minister, Georges Bouchikian, MP Jean Talouzian, and Beirut Armenian Archbishop Georges Assadourian. During the meeting, Patriarch Minassian welcomed the Prime Minister and hailed his undertaken efforts to address the situation in the country, and stressed that “the election of the President of the Republic is the gateway to a solution.’ Patriarch Minassian presented to the Prime Minister the difficulties facing the citizens, on the social, health and educational levels, and the need to find quick solutions to them through the cooperation of all officials and leaders. Premier Mikati, in turn, said, “The key to the basic solution remains political through electing a new president for the republic as soon as possible.” On the other hand, Caretaker Premier Mikati held talks with the United Nations’ Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, whom he met at the Grand Serail on Thursday. The meeting reportedly touched on the ongoing preparations for the report the UN envoy will submit to the Security Council on March 17. Wronecka stressed to her host the necessity of enacting the key reforms and completing the constitutional junctures, especially the presidential and municipal elections. Premier Mikati also met with French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon