Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Minister of State for Administrative Development Najla Riachi. Photo released by the Grand Serail.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a series of meetings Thursday, focusing mainly on issues related to the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
In one of these meetings, held at the Grand Serail, the prime minister and Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan discussed the possibility of expanding agricultural areas in “safe” zones to offset some of the war losses in South Lebanon and the Bekaa. The minister is considering conducting a study to assess the feasibility of this proposal, which would involve using agricultural areas in North Lebanon (Akkar, Dennieh) and along the coast, according to the meeting summary released by the prime minister’s office.
Mikati and Hajj Hassan also discussed the possibility of reclassifying some development aid received by the ministry to strengthen the agricultural sector as “emergency aid” to ensure the country’s food security, which is threatened by the war.
“We are dealing with an enemy that does not understand where it may lead the region, not just Lebanon (…) and we must be prepared for all possibilities,” Hajj Hassan said after the meeting.
In another meeting, Mikati addressed the complaint filed by caretaker Labor Minister Moustapha Bayram with the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding the attack on pagers on Sept. 23. Lebanon alleges that Israel endangered Lebanese workers by rigging these communication devices, which were remotely triggered, causing dozens of casualties, including fatalities and injuries, primarily among Hezbollah members. The complaint was filed in early November.
The prime minister also met with caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, who briefed him on “the state of Treasury revenues” without further details. Additionally, he met with the Minister of State for Administrative Development, Najla Riachi, who provided an update on the progress of a tender to equip the government with a time-tracking system, aimed at better regulating the granting of attendance and productivity bonuses. Finally, Mikati met with Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud to discuss finding new shelters for those displaced by Israeli bombings, in order to free up more space in public schools that have been converted into shelters.
