Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss left Beirut yesterday heading to New York where he will take part along with an official Lebanese delegation in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Lebanese Premier is expected to deliver Lebanon's speech on Thursday. Sources close to the premier said his speech would stress the importance of Israel's unconditional withdrawal of occupied territories in southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa in implementation of UN resolution 425.
Hoss will reiterate Lebanon's adherence to the unity of the Lebanese-Syrian tracks in any regional peace settlement and to the principle of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The premier will also reaffirm the rejection of settling Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, stressing their right to return to their land and homes.
On the sidelines of the meetings, the Lebanese premier is expected to hold talks with heads of participant delegations and world counterparts. He will explain Lebanon's stance from the implementation of UN Resolution 425 and the Middle East peace process.
Before leaving Beirut yesterday, the premier told reporters at the airport the UN has issued a number of resolutions backing Lebanon since 1978, expecting that the world body would issue another resolution this time also backing the country.
Israeli warplanes all day yesterday escalated their attacks and air raids on southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa. In the South, air raids targeted the areas of Jmaijmeh, Zibkeen, Zawtar, As-Sawwan and Mansouri. Israeli air-to-ground missiles also targeted Wadi Zellaya in the Western Bekaa.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupying troops situated in the outposts of Hardoun and Radar this morning opened fire in the direction of Majdel Zoun, Mansouri, Mazraat Byout Al-Sayyad and Wadi Al-Ezzieh in the western sector of the occupied zone. Israeli shelling also targeted areas in the Iqlim Al-Touffah Mountain Ridges.
The Lebanese Resistance late last night retaliated against the Israeli air raids launching an attack against the Israeli outpost in Marj Houla. Other resistance groups had attacked the outposts of Taibeh and Blat in addition to the Western Bekaa Israeli positions in Zemrayya and Ahmadiyyeh. Resistance statements said direct hits were scored in these attacks.
Meanwhile, the Amal Resistance Movement attacked Israeli positions in Radar, Hardoun, Qsseir, Salaa and Shqeef. Other Amal groups targeted the Israeli outposts in Mashaaroun and Mhayssbat.
A delegation from the French House of Senates arrived in Beirut last night for a four-day official visit. The delegation will hold talks with top Lebanese officials including President Emil Lahhoud, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Information Minister Anwar Al-Khalil and Education Minister Mohammed Youssef Beydoun.
The head of the French delegation, who also presides over the Lebanese-French Friendship Association, told reporters at the airport the visit aims at inspecting the implementation of educational and cultural activities in Lebanon in addition to the Lebanese-French cooperation in this field. The delegation will also prepare a report to concerned French authorities in the aim of increasing cooperation ties in this domain.
Among the foreign officials arriving in Beirut last night was the Director General of the West Asia and North Africa Department in the Chinese Foreign Ministry. He is expected to hold talks with the Lebanese Foreign Ministry's Secretary General Zafer Al-Hassan.
His one-day official visit to Lebanon will be followed by a visit to Damascus. The Chinese official is on a regional tour to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan aimed at discussing regional peace developments.
Shouf Deputy Walid Jumblatt conveyed a message from Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz calling for the preservation of the Taef Agreement. Jumblatt stressed the accord's role in preserving stability and peace in the country.
Jumblatt was speaking during a ceremony held in the honor of students with outstanding achievement from the Druze Arfan Institution. The gathering was also attended by Deputy House Speaker MP Elie Al-Firzli and a number of deputies and families of students.
Deputy Prime Minister Interior Minister Michel Al-Murr stressed that President Emil Lahhoud's policy aims at saving the country politically and economically.
Murr added such a policy also aims at preventing the increase of the budget deficit. Murr said economic problems and crises are now witnessed in the Middle East and Europe and several areas across the globe.
The Interior Minister encouraged citizens to hope for a better economic future for their country. Murr was speaking during a ceremony held to conclude the Shopping Festival in Zalqa.
For a second day, Lebanese official headquarters and tourist sites attracted thousands of Lebanese and foreign visitors.
The Baabda presidential palace, Parliament's headquarters in Nijmeh Square and the Premiership headquarters at the Grand Saray in addition to tourist sites across Lebanon opened their doors to receive everyone. Lebanon's three top leaders met with the people who also toured the different official headquarters.
Under the banner Heritage and Citizenship, the event is being organized by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education in cooperation with the National Institution for Heritage and the French Cultural Centers in Lebanon.
The event has become a European tradition launched in France in 1984. Lebanon is the first non-European country that joins this annual tradition.
|
|
|
[ Post It ] [ Real Estate ] |
[ Employment ] |
[ Intellicast Beirut Weather Report ]
[ Lebanon.com Local News Wire Archives ] [ Back to Lebanon.com Home Page ]
