​The President received the Interior Minister and headed a meeting for the maritime border negotiation team.

Minister Mawlawi: “We addressed the ongoing preparations to complete the electoral process on time, in a stable atmosphere. Today, we will tackled the issue of inspecting gas stations and stocks”.

President Aoun in a cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on the occasion of KSA Unification Day: “I cannot but recall the brotherly ties which have united us since the time of the founder. I call for your efforts to consolidate the bonds of Arab solidarity, which we need today”.

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, delivers Lebanon speech at the United Nations General Assembly, tomorrow at 4:00pm. The conference will convene at New York, in which the President will address Lebanon’s stance on local and regional developments, in addition to Lebanese constants.

President Aoun  will address the speech via video technology, from his office at the Presidential Palace.

Interior Minister:

The President met Interior Minister, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, today at the Presidential Palace, and tackled with him the security situation in light of recent reports.

The Interior Ministry’s preparations for parliamentary elections, were also discussed in the meeting.

Statement:

After the meeting, the Interior Minister made the following statement:

“I was honored to meet His Excellency, the President, today. I thanked the President for his trust and I briefed him about the security situation, especially what happened on Saturday in what was revealed about nitrates, how the truck was discovered, how to analyze the taken samples and the progress of judicial investigations, in accordance with the law and regulations.

We also deliberated the ongoing preparations to complete elections on time, in a stable security environment, starting with the preparation of decrees to the formation of the election supervisory body, to other logistical preparations, leading to good and sound elections.

We will brief his Excellency, as well as the media, about all news related to the security situation, our ministry, or the elections”.

Questions & Answers:

Question: Are there any amendments to the proposed date for holding the elections, amid talks about holding the elections next March?

Answer: “If elections will be held in March, a legal amendment must be issued because this is related to deadlines. I have no objections to conducting elections in March in accordance with the law. The parliament’s mandate ends on May 21, and we have committed, in the ministerial policy statement, to hold elections before this date. Lists of delisting and voter lists are frozen according to the law on March 30. The deadline for their publication and correction occurs between February 10 and March 10. In the event that laws remain as they are, it may not be possible to hold elections before March 30, but in the event of legislative intervention to amend some articles and deadlines, this is a matter related to the parliament, as the Interior Ministry implements the law and doesn’t issue laws”.

Question: What about the share of expatriates in the voting for expatriate representatives?

Answer: “There is a committee, according to the law, formed by the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs to discuss this issue. If what is meant is about the additional six MPs, then we are proceeding with the issue according to what the law stipulates in terms of implementing this matter in the upcoming elections. Any other legislative intervention is up to the parliament”.

Question: Will you adopt the magnetic card?

Answer: “If there is an intention to launch this card, and if the government proceeds with it, we welcome that. This will speed up the counting process, and we are currently conducting an assessment of the cost of the elections to be presented to concerned parties to find out how to secure them. I had started my preparations before the government gained confidence, and soon I will have a clear plan to secure the matter from logistical points of view and present it to His Excellency the President, and the cabinet”.

Question: Most gas stations are closed. Why is there no security coordination to open these stations to the public?

Answer: “Yesterday, I spoke to the Energy Minister, who had sent me a request to security forces to support the ministry to inspect stations and stockpiles. Today we will deal with this matter”.

Maritime Border Negotiation Team:

The President chaired a meeting for the delegation of indirect negotiations to demarcate southern maritime borders.

The delegation included head of the delegation, Brigadier General Pilot Bassam Yassin, members: Colonel, Mazen Basbous, and Engineer Wissam Shbat.

The delegation presented a report containing the stages of the negotiations from its inception to date, and an integrated strategy for the next stage in a way which guarantees Lebanon’s supreme interest in preserving its rights to its wealth in the exclusive economic zone.

Former Minister Nehme:

President Aoun met former Economy and Trade Minister, Raoul Nehme.

Nehme thanked the President for the support during his ministerial work, and wished success for the new government, hoping that it would succeed in facing internal and external difficulties.

Congratulations to the Saudi King:

The President sent a congratulation cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, on the occasion of the unification of KSA.

Text:

“On this occasion, I cannot but recall the ties of brotherhood which unite us, since the time of the late founder King Abdul Aziz Al Saud, for whom Lebanon maintains a prominent position, and who laid the foundations of convergence on the values of goodness and originality which your brotherly Kingdom continues to follow towards our homeland and people.

As I benefit from this occasion to congratulate your Majesty, I pray for your continued health and wellness in leading your brotherly kingdom on the paths of progress and determination, and for God Almighty to preserve it, granting its children contentment, and crowning your efforts in consolidating the bonds of Arab solidarity. A solidarity which we need today to face various challenges which afflict our region, and the world.

May God Almighty preserve your days with his blessings, and keeping all the hardships away from your brotherly country”.

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