Lebanon – European Affairs Magazine

Lebanon: Abi Khalil inaugurates 'Water Security in the Arab World' conference

4 Maggio 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Water and Energy Minister, Cezar Abi Khalil, inaugurated on Wednesday a conference titled “Water Security in the Arab World” during which he pushed for the implementation of a national water strategy that goes in line with the most recent regional changes, including the massive influx of Syrian refugees”. The issue of water is of paramount importance in Lebanon and the countries of the region because of the limited availability of potable and irrigation water”, Abi Khalil said. The Minister went on to explain that index figures indicate that countries that suffer a shortage 1,000 cubic meters of water per capita were categorized as countries that suffer water scarcity

Politics Rahi welcomes Central African official.

29 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Rahi welcomed, at Bkerki on Friday, Central African MP Guy Roger Moskit, accompanied by Central Africa’s Consul in Lebanon Camille Fenianos. Talks reportedly touched on an array of affairs of common interest between the two countries. “The meeting was very rich. We discussed the situation in Central Africa Republic, which is very similar to that in Lebanon. Our country suffered a lot from the civil war, which they called sectarian; but it was political just like Lebanon war. But today we are living in peace and stability,” the visiting official told reporters following the meeting. “The situation in Syria is concerning the entire world. And we have heard the Patriarch’s view”.

ISF arrests 91 Syrians for illegally entering Lebanon

28 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Within the framework of combating smuggling of persons from Syria to Lebanon, and as a result of close follow-up and monitoring, Internal Security Forces (ISF) Information Branch managed to arrest 91 Syrian people (29 men, 29 women and 33 children) in the Beqai town of Al-Suwairi, for attempting to illegally enter into the Lebanese territories, ISF Directorate General said in a communiqué. In details, some of the detained Syrians tried to illegally enter the Lebanese territories aboard two “Renault Kango” and “Kia Picanto” cars, while others attempted to cross walking.

Swedish Ambassador visits Hermel, says his country keen on supporting Syrian refugees in Lebanon

28 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Wedish Ambassador to Lebanon, Peter Semneby, expressed on Thursday his country’s deep concern for Middle Eastern affairs, especially those involving Syrian refugees. “Despite the evacuation of the Swedish Embassy in Syria, we remain in contact with the Syrian state. We are also assisting Syrian refugees on Lebanese territories”, the Swedish diplomat said, confirming his country’s relentless efforts to provide support to Syria and other neighboring countries. He made clear that during the second half of 2017, funding will take place through UNICEF. “This will take place following a thorough study on the needs of Syrian refugees and their hosting societies”, he added.

The Internal Security Forces arrests two persons on charges of belonging to Daesh.

27 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

The Internal Security Forces General Directorate issued on Wednesday a statement in which it announced that two individuals proven to be involved in acts of terror and affiliated with the terrorist organization, Daesh, have been arrested after thorough investigations and pursuit. The arrestees have admitted to having contacted a number of ISIS leaders for the end of carrying out acts of terror in Lebanon, recruiting young men, joining the organization’s ranks in Syria, targeting Army and Security elements, receiving training in explosives manufacturing, and promoting the organization’s ideology through social media platforms.

Hasbani from Washington: US administration's attitude towards Lebanon "positive"

23 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Vice Prime Minister, Public Health Minister, Ghassan Hasbani, wrapped up his meetings at the World Bank in Washington, where he succeeded in approving a sum of 150 million dollars in support of the infrastructure of the health sector in Lebanon. During his visit, Hasbani briefed to the decision makers Lebanon’s suffering, due to the Syrian influx, socially, medically, financially, and economically, and the heavy toll all those took on the country’s infrastructure. Minister Hasabani revealed that the meetings that he held with some of the U.S. officials were positive, noting that the new U.S. administration was aware of the challenges that Lebanon was facing.

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Mleiss was killed during gunfire exchange

23 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Orientation Directorate issued on Saturday the following statement: “Following the initial statement concerning an army task force carrying out a raid on the town of Arsal, and arresting ten dangerous terrorists, the Command clarifies that during the raid, the task force was attacked by terrorist gunfire, and retaliated in the same fashion, killing the Emir of ISIS terrorist organization in the Qalamoun region, Syrian national Hassan Mleiss. The latter had taken part, along an armed group, in attacking centers for the LAF and invading an ISF building, kidnapping servicemen in the town of Arsal on August 2, 2014.

Ministry of Public Health Ghassan Hasbani begins meetings in Washington.

21 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Minister of Public Health, Ghassan Hasbani, started his meeting on Thursday at the World Bank headquarters in Washington. He met with World Bank’s Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Hafez Ghanem. Minister Hasbani then met with a delegation of the committees concerned by the discussion of the projects, in presence of the World Bank’s task force, as well as relevant directors and representatives of donor countries. Hasbani shed lights on the project developed by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health in cooperation with the World Bank to support the health sector in Lebanon.

Two Israeli enemy planes violate Lebanese skies

21 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

An Israeli enemy drone violated on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. the Lebanese skies over Alma Al-Shaab village, executed a circular flight over Iklim Al-Kharoub regions, Baabda and Beirut, and then left at 11:40 p.m. from above the said village, a communiqué issued by the Army Command- the Guidance Directorate said on Thursday. On the same day at 10:55 p.m. , another Israeli drone violated the Lebanese skies from above Kfarkilla village made a U-turn over the south and West Bekaa regions and then left on Thursday at 7:00 a.m. from above Rmeich village, the communiqué added.

Army: Reconnaissance enemy planes violate Lebanese Airspace

20 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

An Israeli reconnaissance plane breached the Lebanese airspace on Wednesday at 10:07 above the Southern Lebanese village of Kfarkila and effectuated U-shaped maneuvers over Riyaq, Baalbek and Hermel, a Lebanese Army communiqué said on Wednesday, adding that the enemy aircraft left at 15:14 from abovementioned village. The communiqué added that another Israeli drone violated the Lebanese skies on the same day at 8:00 from above Nakoura village, carried out a circular flight over the south regions and West Bekaa then left from above Kfarkila.