Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Thursday welcomed at the Grand Serail, the Interior Minister of Cyprus Konstantinos Ioannou, accompanied by the Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon Panayiotis Kyriacou. The meeting was attended by the Secretary General of the Higher Defense Council, Major General Mohammad Mostafa, and Mikati’s advisor Boutros Assaker. Discussions reportedly touched on the issue of illegal migration. Caretaker Premier Mikati also received a delegation from the ‘Halliburton’ Company, who briefed him on the preparations for exploration in Block 9 and the logistical challenges of drilling work. Mikati later received at the Grand Serail, the Representative of the International Organization of La Francophonie in the Middle East, Lévon Amirjanyan, who said after the meeting that he informed Premier Mikati that the Francophone Organization will organize a visit for a trade and economic mission to Lebanon at the beginning of October, in which around one hundred Francophone institutions and companies from 25 countries will participate, in order to communicate with their counterparts to establish partnerships and investments. ‘This mission will be led by the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo. There will be high-level seminars with the participation of senior political and economic officials in the country. This is a good opportunity for Lebanese companies to establish relations with Francophone companies, which will inevitably contribute to the revival of the Lebanese economy,’ Amirjanyan noted. Mikati later met with Caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports, George Kallas, who thanked the Premier for sponsoring the “Beirut Capital of Arab Youth 2023” celebration. Mikati then met with the Caretaker National Education and Higher Education Minister, Judge Abbas Al-Halabi, and the President of the Lebanese University, Dr. Bassam Badran. Minister Halabi said on emerging that they discussed with the Premier issues related to the Lebanese University. The Prime Minister also met with Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, and presented with him affairs related to his ministry. Mikati then met with Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, and discussed with him relevant ministry affairs. Moreover, Mikati also received separately, Acting Director General of General Security, Brigadier General Elias Baissari, then the Director-General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon