Category: Governance

Meknes – Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, expressed on Monday in Meknes his country’s willingness to deepen cooperative relations with Morocco in the agricultural sector.

“Morocco and Nigeria have long-standing relations. We are determined to further deepen our bilateral agreements and cooperation protocols,’ Kyari told the press, following a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, on the sidelines of the International Agriculture Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM).

On this occasion, the Nigerian minister said he was impressed by the progress made by the Kingdom in the agricultural sector, noting that the meeting with Sadiki had been fruitful.

Organized until April 28 under the theme “Climate and agriculture: For sustainable and resilient production systems”, the 16th edition of SIAM will see the participation of nearly 70 countries, including Spain as guest of honor, and 1,500 exhibitors.

More than
950,000 visitors are expected to attend this major Moroccan and international agricultural event, which features a rich program of 40 conferences and round tables on crucial topical issues.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – The Republic of Sierra Leone expressed, on Tuesday in Rabat, its full support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, while considering the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the only “credible, serious and realistic” solution to the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

This stance was expressed in a joint communiqué issued following talks between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba.

In the joint communiqué, Sierra Leone’s FM reiterated his country’s firm support to the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, which was reinforced by the opening, in August 2021, of a Sierra Leonean Consulate General in Dakhla and its participation, on January 15, 2021, in the Ministerial Conference in support of the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty, at the invitation of the Kingdom and the United States of America.

In this regard, he expressed his full support for
the UN-led process to reach a realistic, practical and lasting solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Tuesday held a meeting at his Ain el-Tineh residence with the Ambassadors of the Quintet Committee.

The meeting was attended by Amanda Pilz, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Lebanon, representing US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, on Tuesday received at his Yarzeh office, MP Hagop Pakradounian, with whom he discussed the current general situation and the latest political developments.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, on Tuesday met with a delegation from the Civil Society Dialogue Table and the Great Lebanon Gathering at the patriarchal headquarters. The delegation included Sayyed Ali Al-Amin, General Ashraf Rifi, Princess Hayat Arslan, Dr. Joseph Rahme, Dr. Abdel Majeed Awad, and Mr. Mohammad Al-Amin.

After the meeting, Sayyed Ali Al-Amin stated that the meeting discussed the initiative by the Great Lebanon Gathering to promote the state project and return to the core values of coexistence and Lebanese sovereignty. The meeting also highlighted the crucial role of Bkerki in Lebanon.

MP Ashraf Rifi also commented, inviting the Patriarch to participate in the upcoming national initiative’s activities, emphasizing the importance of unity and state-building.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

In an interview on LBCI TV channel, Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, emphasized the daily updating of the ministry’s map to include direct and indirect damages in southern Lebanese towns that have been subjected to attacks.

Hajj Hassan stressed the impossibility of obtaining a scientific answer regarding whether the soil in the south is harmful to agricultural production until the necessary studies are conducted and a scientific answer is obtained after the cessation of hostilities.

“We have formed a committee ready to study this soil as soon as the Israeli attacks on these areas stop,” he added.

The minister also stated, “For every tree the enemy burns, we will plant ten trees.”

Moreover, he revealed that “the value of agricultural and other damages in the south is much more than USD 3 billion.’

Hajj Hassan also mentioned the existence of a plan to revitalize the fisheries sector, financed by Norway with approximately 2 million, and called for Arab investment in Lebanese agricultura
l projects.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader, MP Taymour Jumblatt, on Tuesday welcomed at his Clemenceau residence, Norwegian Ambassador to Lebanon, with whom he discussed the overall situation in Lebanon and the region.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Head of the Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Committee, MP Fadi Alameh, on Tuesday met with Hungarian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ferenc Csillag, with whom he discussed the situation southern Lebanon and the region, as well as the importance of supporting the Lebanese army.

Both parties emphasized “the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the educational field, where Hungary offers 50 scholarships annually to Lebanese students.”

The pair also discussed the issue of Syrian displacement, with Alameh emphasizing “the need to expedite the return of refugees, as displacement poses a burden on Lebanon.”

Both sides also touched on the presidential file, with Alameh emphasizing “the idea of dialogue as a basis for a solution.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon