A screengrab from a video posted by the Internal Security Forces on Twitter shows a bust of captagon hidden in chocolates. (Credit: ISF/@LebISF)
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Lebanon has received letters from authorities in France and Luxembourg asking for information relating to Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh’s bank accounts and assets, according to Reuters sources. When asked for comment, Salameh told Reuters the request for cooperation from Luxembourg was a “normal procedure” not a “legal suit.” He denied reports that he had been charged by Luxembourg authorities, and noted both Switzerland and France had previously requested similar cooperation from Lebanon. In addition to Luxembourg and France, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are also probing Salameh’s personal wealth. A Lebanese investigation is reportedly being stymied by political interference.
Members of the UN Security Council emphasized the need for Lebanon to “deliver reforms in order to ensure effective international support” in a press statement released Friday. The council took positive note of the resumption of cabinet meetings in Lebanon and encouraged swift action on a 2022 budget that would enable the quick conclusion of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The statement also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the 2020 Beirut blast, full women’s participation in upcoming elections and disassociation from external conflicts, while condemning recent attacks on UN peacekeeping forces in South Lebanon. In other diplomatic news, Japan donated an additional $8.5 million in emergency aid amid harsh winter weather, which is aggravating already inadequate housing conditions for vulnerable people.
Lebanon returned 337 allegedly smuggled artifacts to Iraq on Sunday, in a ceremony at the National Museum. On Saturday Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada had said that Lebanon would return the disputed antiquities to Iraq. The repatriation will consist of 337 artifacts, 331 of which are inscribed in the ancient cuneiform language. Mortada said an agreement was reached between the Nabu Museum in northern Lebanon, which possessed the artifacts, and the Iraqi government. For years Iraq has sought the return of the museum pieces, while Nabu’s founder Jawad Adra has denied any wrongdoing in his acquisition of them.
The Internal Security Forces announced Saturday that they had foiled an attempt to smuggle 27 kilograms of captagon powder to Kuwait. The ISF said the drugs were concealed in a container of chocolates. This drug bust marks the latest in a series of interceptions announced by the ISF in recent months, after Saudi Arabia banned all imports from Lebanon in October on the grounds that Lebanon was not properly securing its borders to prevent drug smuggling.
Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar will announce the results of the registration process for two social assistance programs and next steps today. The press conference will be held at 11:30 in the morning. In other government news, the cabinet will hold a regular session on Tuesday covering a 76-item agenda. It is scheduled to complete its last session on the 2022 draft budget on Thursday.