President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, expressed his deep gratitude to Pope Francis for the “Day of Prayer and Meditation for Lebanon” which the Pope dedicated to Lebanon, in the Vatican City yesterday.

The President reiterated his thanks to His Holiness the Pope for his initiative, for which he enlisted the Holy See’s departments concerned with relations between countries, and affirmed that the Lebanese, with all their sects, who have the greatest respect for the Holy See, will meet the Pope in his call to save their homeland, which, in the words of His Holiness himself yesterday, is “a treasure to be preserved”.

In addition, President Aoun asserted that the Lebanese are awaiting the visit of His Holiness the Pope to their country “To announce with them the resurrection of Lebanon from its setbacks, and to confirm that they deserved their homeland and worked together to revive it and preserve their national unity, which remains its supreme shield of protection, and in which the homeland of presence and mission remains”.

British Chargé d’Affairs:

President Aoun received the head of the British diplomatic mission in Beirut, Dr. Martin Longden, and the political advisor at the embassy, Gavin Tenish.

Lebanese-British relations were presented, where the President of the Republic thanked Dr. Longden for the efforts he made while heading the British mission in Lebanon and wished him, on the occasion of the end of his work in Beirut, success in his new duties.

MP Elias Bou saab:

The President met MP Elias Bou Saab and tackled with him current developments, government conditions and developments, in addition to life issues and the needs of the Matn region.

MP Bou saab stated that he briefed President Aoun on the implementation stages of the project to expand the Wadi Al-Jamagim road in Baskinta, the work of the Lebanese-Canadian Hospital in combating the Corona, and the vaccination campaigns that have been in place for some time.

“The meeting also addressed government developments, and what could lead to a solution to the current crisis” MP Bou Saab said, pointing out that the issue of demarcating the southern maritime borders was also the focus of research, based on the keenness shown by the President of the Republic to continue contacts to address this file in a manner that preserves Lebanon’s rights to its natural wealth and enhances regional stability.

MP Assad Dergham:

President Aoun received MP Asaad Dergham, and discussed with him the situation in the Akkar region and the suffering of citizens as a result of road blocks, in light of the lack of fuel and foodstuffs.

MP Dergham indicated that the President immediately gave directives to the security services to take the necessary measures to address the situation.

Follow up on the procedures of the meeting of the Supreme Defense Council:

President Aoun also followed up on the procedures and measures that were decided at the last meeting of the Supreme Defense Council last Tuesday, especially with regard to the situation at Rafic Hariri International Airport.

For this purpose, President Aoun contacted the Director General of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, the head of the Airport Security Service, Brigadier George Doumit, Director General of Civil Aviation at Rafic Hariri International Airport, Eng. Fadi Al-Hassan, and the Acting Director General of Customs, Raymond Khoury. The President stressed the necessity of facilitating the arrival of passengers to and from the airport, and ensuring their comfort, especially with the increase in the number of flights and arrivals, noting that the number of those who entered the airport yesterday reached 13,000 passengers from different countries, and 83 planes landed on its runways, a record number not seen at the airport since the recent events.

In addition, President Aoun stressed the need to remain fully prepared to keep pace with the increased traffic at the airport.– Presidency Press Office

Source: National News Agency