The Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ahmed Al-Asadi, announced today, Tuesday, that "Iraq stands with Lebanon today and tomorrow, just as it has in the past. Lebanon and Iraq are one case. The Iraqi government supports Lebanon and confirms that this support will continue. The meeting between Lebanese Minister of Energy Walid Fayyad yesterday with the Prime Minister and the Iraqi Minister of Oil was positive, and there is a request from Lebanon to increase the share of fuel oil granted to Lebanon. This matter is under technical and engineering study, but we are committed to continuing this support for Lebanon." Al-Asadi's remarks came during a series of meetings held by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati today at the Grand Serail, attended by Lebanese Minister of Labor Mustafa Bayram and Iraqi Minister of Labor Ahmed Al-Asadi, heading a delegation that included the Director General of the Ministry of Labor Ahmed Baniyah, the head of the Iraqi Embassy's mission Amin Al-Nasrawi, and the embassy adviser Sanqoul Ismail.
He added, "Mikati entrusted me with a message to the Iraqi Prime Minister inviting him to visit Lebanon, and I informed him that the President is preparing for this visit soon, God willing." Regarding the number of Lebanese working in Iraq, Al-Asadi noted that "we do not have an exact figure one hundred percent, but the information I have indicates that there are about 17,000 Lebanese working in the labor market in Iraq."
For his part, Lebanese Minister of Labor Mustafa Bayram invited "any Iraqi person who receives a job offer to verify the accuracy of the offer by contacting the Iraqi Embassy in Lebanon, so that no worker falls victim to exploitation." He indicated that "the Iraqi state is committed to Lebanon's share of fuel and is working to increase this share, but technical studies are being conducted to ensure transparency in this area." Bayram emphasized that "the minister has conveyed to the Prime Minister the supportive position of Iraq towards Lebanon, regardless of who the Iraqi government is, considering that Iraq's position towards Lebanon is strategic due to the significant similarities between the two countries, both negatively and positively. We aspire to enhance positive cooperation for the benefit of both peoples."
Mikati also met, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al-Shami, with the World Bank's regional director Jan Christophe Carré, where the World Bank's projects for Lebanon were discussed. The Prime Minister also met with the acting Director General of General Security, Brigadier General Elias Al-Baysari.
