​The President received a delegation of expatriate doctors in Australia.

MP Arslan: “We have seen seriousness of completing the formation of the Government soon by President Aoun, given the validity of representation. It is not permissible to deal with the Druze community with the background of diminishing its rights to gain private interests”.

Lebanese Democratic Party Chairman, MP Mir Talal Arslan, quoted the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, of his keenness on the serious approach to complete the formation of the upcoming Government in the near future, taking into account correct representation. Arslan stressed that “It is not permissible, under any consideration, circumstance, or excuse that the Druze community is being dealt with by diminishing its rights to gain private interests for some at the expense of the general national interest, and that is based on our conviction that this country is a country of diversity, unity and common coexistence, and has privacy where no one can eliminate anyone in it”. MP Arslan also considered that “All the approaches that some have tried to take on the issue of the government are wrong, as if what is required is a specific targeting of the Druze community."

The President had received MP Arslan, at the head of a delegation that included Minister of Social Affairs and Tourism in the caretaker government, Ramzi Musharrafieh, and former Minister Saleh al-Gharib, today at the Presidential Palace. 

The meeting tackled latest local developments, especially those related to the issue of forming the future Government.

MP Arslan statement:

After the meeting, MP Arslan made the following statement to the journalists: 

“On the occasion of the honorable holidays, we must first visit His Excellency the President of the Republic General Michel Aoun to congratulate him on Christmas and New Year's Day, wishing that Lebanon, in the coming year, will be in better conditions and oriented according to the correct and constitutional frameworks that should prevail in every aspect and approach.

The second reason for the visit is that we informed His Excellency the President, of our view in approaching the government issue that is being discussed, and our absolute rejection, under any excuse or unconvincing argument, of the government of 18 ministers, which means prejudice, injustice and an infringement of the rights of a basic sect in Lebanon Hence, it is not permissible under any consideration, circumstance, or excuse to deal with the Druze community against the background of diminishing its rights to gain special interests for some at the expense of the general national interest, and that is based on our conviction that this country is a country of diversity, unity and common living, and it has a specificity where no one can cancel anyone in it. All the approaches that some have tried to approach with the issue of the government are wrong, as if what is required is a specific targeting of the Druze community. 

To clarify, I say that when the PM-designate set out, he started with the 14th government, and ascended to the 18th government, surpassing the 16th government, because in the 16th government the Druze are equitable in representation, and from 18 to 20 the Druze are treated fairly on the basis of equality in rights and duties.  But we saw that the situation is going towards a complete disregard for this issue, so we would like to inform His Excellency the President directly of this position, which we had issued clear and frank about a week ago, bearing in mind that no one is called to make it a major issue, as if the 18  and 20th formation will ruin the country, while trying to portray the matter as overstepping the deadline and time and manipulating them. 

From 18 to 20, the number increases with only two ministers: one is Druze, and the other is from our brothers in the Catholic community, and therefore this increase will support the government, which we hope will be formed at the earliest opportunity, taking into account the correct representation in it”.

The President also met a delegation of expatriate doctors in Australia, in the presence of MP Nabil Nicolas, who took the initiative to provide a mobile hospital for dental treatment after the explosion that occurred in Beirut Port. The hospital was placed at the disposal of the Faculty of Dentistry at the Lebanese University. 

The delegation showed commitment of the Lebanese Diaspora to help their resident brothers through initiatives that address various areas of assistance.

For his part, President Aoun welcomed the delegation, appreciating the initiative to provide a mobile hospital for dental treatment, and commended Lebanese diaspora solidarity with the residing Lebanon in various circumstances, especially after the explosion in the port.  President Aoun also stressed that the Lebanese diaspora is a wealth of Lebanon, pointing to the laws that were approved during his era to maintain communication between expatriates and residents, especially the law of restoring nationality and enabling expatriates to vote in the parliamentary elections and other measures which shortened the distance between resident Lebanon and widespread Lebanon.

The delegation included: Fadi Abu Zaid, Mai Abu Zaid, Joel Abu Zaid, Jawad Abu Zaid, Elsa Abu Zaid, Mary May Abu Zaid, Therese Abu Rahal, and Rami Abu Zaid.

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