The caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati met with the Secretary-General of the Special Investigation Commission concerned with the implementation of the anti-money laundering and terrorism financing law, Abdul Hafiz Mansour, to discuss the results of the working teams’ meetings and the 36th plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force for the Middle East and North Africa held in Bahrain. After the meeting, Mansour stated: "Lebanon underwent an evaluation process for its commitment to international standards for combating money laundering and terrorism financing for a duration of 16 months, which is a long period, knowing that these procedures are standard and applied in all countries."
He added: "We must wait for the report to be published next month. Before its release, I do not believe we can discuss any procedures related to 'listings.' Lebanon was represented in the discussions and deliberations by a highly professional team, which was appreciated by all attendees. They made significant efforts to discuss this report, and we will see the results in the report that will be published next month.”
**Meeting with the Minister of Energy**
President Miqati also met with Minister of Energy Walid Fayyad, who indicated that "upon the arrival of additional quantities of Iraqi fuel, which we exchange for gas oil, the supply hours will increase. We are working to increase the quantity from 80,000 tons per month to 160,000 tons for the months of July, August, and September, which will result in doubling the supply hours, in addition to electricity secured by purchasing fuel through the Central Bank within the treasury advance mechanism, leading to an additional three hours of electricity, but we must wait for the fuel from Iraq." Regarding the disparity in electricity supply hours between regions, he said: "I hope that Electricité du Liban publishes transparent electricity distribution schedules, specifically indicating the number of hours in each area."
**Meeting with the "Independents for Lebanon" Delegation**
President Miqati received a delegation from the "Independents for Lebanon" meeting, which includes independent Christian figures. Following the meeting, the lawyer Issa Nahas spoke on behalf of the delegation, stating that "there is no alternative for Lebanon other than its national covenant based on coexistence, continuous dialogue, and participation in governance within a formula of interaction among the components that produces a pioneering role for Lebanon, remaining as called for by the Apostolic Exhortation and Saint Pope John Paul II more than a homeland, it is a message." He emphasized the necessity of electing a president for the republic as soon as possible to revive the country and address its current economic crisis.
