BEIRUT —Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abou al-Ghaith, shortly after arriving in Beirut on Friday, said that he hoped that the consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers scheduled in Lebanon for Saturday would "conclude an agreement on the measures to be taken in the future,” the state-run National News Agency reported. Abou al-Ghait however did not specify what these measures would be.
Here’s what we know:
• According to the NNA, Abou el-Ghaith expressed hopes that "the meeting will generate actions and that an agreement will be reached on the measures to be taken in the future," adding that " all Arab countries will participate in the meeting, with the exception of Syria whose membership is suspended.” The head of the Arab League also said that "there is no agenda or specific ideas" for the meeting. "Each minister will come up with an idea from their country's point of view," he explained.
• Along with the head of the Arab League, several Arab foreign ministers arrived in Beirut on Thursday to attend this meeting. The meeting is part of the preparations for the Arab League summit which will be held in Algeria in the fall.
• Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra, arrived late Friday afternoon at Beirut International Airport.
• Earlier in the morning, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdelrahman al-Thani and Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon Ibrahim bin Abdel Aziz al-Sahlaoui, Berri’s office said in a press release, also indicating that the officials discussed the overall situation in Lebanon and the region and bilateral relations between Beirut and Doha.
• Yesterday, Qatar announced a donation of $60 million to the Lebanese Army as part of its support for the country during the worst economic crisis in its history.