GEAGEA BROACHES POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS WITH US AMBASSADOR, SAYS GAME OF TIME AGGRAVATES CRISIS

Lebanese Forces Party leader, Samir Geagea, on Thursday met in Maarab, with US Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, accompanied by the Embassy’s Political Affairs Chief, Amy Smith. The meeting took place in the presence of the Party’s Foreign Relations Chief, former minister Richard Kouyoumjian, and LF Central Council member, Mark Saad. Discussions reportedly touched on the latest developments on the local and regional arena. Geagea stressed before Ambassador Shea, “Betting on the time factor in the presidential elections will not serve any camp, especially the opposing team and its candidate, whose chances of being elected have become nil. Therefore, the game of time will only exacerbate the crisis and delay the reform chances that the Lebanese are in dire need of nowadays.” Geagea also pointed out that “the time has come to show the needed courage and call on the parliament to convene and carry out its constitutional tasks, most essentially electing a president for the republic, as soon as possible.” The LF leader stressed, “The initiative today lies in the hands of the Lebanese themselves to secure the election of a figure who enjoys not only integrity and uprightness, but also adequate courage to run the country’s affairs amid this delicate and critical situation.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

SHEIKH AKL ABI AL-MUNA DISCUSSES GENERAL SITUATION WITH KSA AMBASSADOR, HAILS SAUDI ROLE

Sheikh Akl of the Unitarian Druze Community, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, on Thursday received at the Druze Community House in Beirut, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari. Discussions touched on the general situation, bilateral relations, and current issues on the domestic and international arenas. The meeting was an occasion during which Sheikh Abi Al-Muna hailed the active role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Arab and international levels, and its historical relationship with Lebanon, and its constant stand by the country during its ordeals and crises.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Army chief receives US Ambassador

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, on Thursday received US Ambassador to Jordan, Henry Wooster. The meeting covered aspects of joint cooperation and coordination in various military, operational, training and logistic fields, in a way that achieves the desired goals to serve the armed forces of the two friendly countries. Senior officers of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) – Arab Army attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

MAWLAWI MEETS UN’S WRONECKA, UN’S RIZA, DISCUSSES COORDINATORY AFFAIRS WITH CARETAKER MINISTER NASSAR

Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, on Thursday received in his office at the Ministry, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka. Discussions touched on the general situation and the repercussions of the Syrian displacement on Lebanon. Caretaker Minister Mawlawi then met with UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, over the Syrian displacement issue and its repercussions. On the other hand, Mawlawi discussed with Caretaker Minister of Tourism, Walid Nassar, coordination affairs between the Ministries of Interior and Tourism, in the presence of former MP Eddy Maalouf. Mawlawi also met with former MP Mansour Ghanem El-Bon, and discussed with him the general situation.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon