​President Aoun deliberated West Bekaa and Rashaya affairs, with MP Maroun.

 

Minister Khoury: “The draft appointments to the Courts of Cassation are still in the Ministry of Finance. We will take the required measures as soon as we are notified of the judgment of the International Tribunal for Lebanon”.

 

President Aoun congratulated Lebanon's men's under-16 basketball team:

“By qualifying for the finals, a new candle of hope is lit by the ability of Lebanon's youth to create a bright future”.

 

The Omani ambassador on a farewell visit to Baabda Palace: “Sultan Haitham wishes Lebanon continued progress and the return of stability”.

 

Justice Minister, Judge Henry Khoury, indicated that there is nothing new yet regarding appointments in the Courts of Cassation, and pointed out that the relevant project is still in the Ministry of Finance. 

 

The Justice Minister reiterated that his ministry, as soon as it is notified of the ruling recently issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, will take the required measures that Lebanon has committed to before the Tribunal.

 

Minister Khoury’s positions came after his meeting with President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, today at Baabda Palace.

 

Minister Khoury briefed the President on the proceedings of the meeting of the Venice Commission (Commission de Venise held last week in Italy), in addition to the work of the Ministry of Justice.

 

Statement:

After the meeting, Minister Khoury made the following statement:

“I met the President of the Republic today, after my return from Italy, following the meeting of the Venice Commission, which constitutes the supreme advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of European foreign ministers.

 

I had previously received an invitation to attend it after meetings held via Zoom and with delegations from Venice to discuss the law on the independence of the judiciary.  We exchanged ideas from the start of the contacts until the meeting in Venice last week, and they are related to forming a judicial council, conducting judicial formations, and some legal articles that were presented to us, which enabled the Lebanese delegation to lay some foundations, especially those related to the independence of the judiciary.

 

The Ministry of Justice is in the process of developing a project for the independence of the judicial authority that stems from the current law and deals with articles that were discussed at length before the Venice Commission, while adhering to the Lebanese specificity that everyone recognized.

 

The meeting also dealt with judicial issues that are current topics, and His Excellency, on his part, briefed me on some matters”.

 

Questions & Answers:

Question: Did it appear in the Venice meeting that there is something that requires an amendment to the Lebanese laws? 

Answer: “Of course, I set out with the Venice Commission from the Lebanese judicial law, and the amendments will deal with some articles, and I am in constant consultation with the Judicial Council in this regard, and we agree on the basic ideas.

 

Asked if there is anything new regarding judicial appointments in the Courts of Cassation, the Justice Minister said: “Not yet. The project is still in the Ministry of Finance”.

 

Regarding the Ministry of Justice being informed of the recent ruling issued by the International Tribunal for Lebanon, Minister Khoury replied: “The Ministry has not yet been notified, and when we are informed, we will take the required procedures that Lebanon has committed to the International Tribunal”.

 

Sultanate of Oman Ambassador:

President Aoun met the Sultanate of Oman’s ambassador to Lebanon, Badr bin Muhammad Al-Mandhari, on a farewell visit on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic mission in Lebanon and his transfer to the Omani embassy in London. 

 

Ambassador Al-Mandhari conveyed to President Aoun the greetings of Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said and his wishes to him and Lebanon for continued progress and the return of stability.

 

The Omani ambassador also expressed his gratitude for the cooperation he received during his stay in Beirut. 

 

For his part, President Aoun noted the efforts made by Ambassador Al-Mandhari to strengthen brotherly relations between Lebanon and the Sultanate of Oman, wishing the ambassador success in his new diplomatic mission.

 

MP Maroun:

The President received West Bekaa and Rashaya MP, Charbel Maroun.

 

MP Maroun thanked President Aoun for the support given to the region's needs, especially development and life ones. 

 

MP Maroun also said that he discussed the situation of Lake Qaraoun and a number of projects of interest to the region.

 

Congratulations to Lebanon's men's basketball team:

On the other hand, the President congratulated the members of the Lebanese men's basketball team under the age of sixteen after qualifying for the World Cup finals in the game.

 

President Aoun wrote the following on Twitter:

 

“As the members of the Lebanese men's basketball team under the age of sixteen return to the homeland, raising the achievement of their qualification to the World Cup finals next month, a new candle of hope is lit in the ability of Lebanon's youth to create a bright future for themselves and their country.

 

All the best and congratulations to the Cedar team”.

 

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