NNA - Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday welcomed the joint statement issued by the leaders of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining stability in Lebanon and unifying efforts to reduce tension along the Blue Line, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
"We highly appreciate this supportive stance towards Lebanon, urging all efforts to halt escalation," said Prime Minister Mikati.
"Our priority is to engage with Lebanon's friends worldwide and decision-making countries to contain escalation and halt Israeli aggression in southern Lebanon,” the PM added, highlighting that Lebanese diplomatic contacts have warned against the risks of Israeli plans to escalate the conflict not only towards Lebanon but also at a regional level, as echoed in the joint statement's emphasis on avoiding regional escalation.
On another level, Mikati met with Minister of Education and Higher Education, Abbas Halabi.
Following the meeting, Minister Halabi stated, "We presented the educational situation at the end of the current academic year, assuring his Excellency that the Ministry of Education has made all preparations for the official exams scheduled to begin on June 29 for three days. Any doubts raised by certain media outlets regarding the Ministry's ability to conduct these exams will be dispelled by the facts and truth that will emerge. Exams are scheduled, and students should only heed official announcements from the Ministry of Education."
Halabi encouraged teachers and educational institutions in both public and private schools to participate in exam supervision and correction, emphasizing that all preparations have been completed.
Regarding a question about exceptional measures for students in border villages in southern Lebanon, Minister Halabi clarified, "Exams will be uniform for all students across Lebanese territories. Exam centers will consider security factors, ensuring the safest locations for students. We are in communication with teachers and students in the South to ensure their safety."
Later during the day, Prime Minister Mikati chaired a meeting attended by Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayad, World Bank Regional Director for the Middle East Jean-Christophe Carret, General Director of Electricité du Liban, Kamal Hayek.
Minister Fayad stated after the meeting, "We discussed the progress of the World Bank's energy sector loan program, particularly in renewable energy. This program, with about $250 million in investments, aims to strengthen Electricité du Liban and includes remote control centers and institutional support for the electricity company."
Fayad also mentioned Prime Minister Mikati's intervention regarding a proposed legal solution to expedite the renewable energy project with Total Energy and Qatar Energy, expressing hope for positive engagement from both Qatar and France.
Responding to a question about increasing electricity supply, Minister Fayad explained, "There is an increase in electricity supply, with Electricité du Liban collaborating with Deir Ammar and Zahrani groups, producing about 450 megawatts, expected to rise to about 600 megawatts by mid-June. This will provide additional hours of power supply, vital during summer when demand, particularly for air conditioning, peaks."
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