The Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, held a meeting today, Monday, with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Frontska, at the Grand Serail. After the meeting, Frontska stated: "I came to inform the President about the Security Council meeting in New York, what I said in my speech regarding Resolution 1701, the necessity of adhering to and implementing it on the ground, how to protect Lebanon from the wars in the region, in addition to the topic of reforms, the role of state institutions, and the election of a President for the Republic." She mentioned that the Security Council "is very interested in the topic of Lebanon, as it plays a strategic role in the region, and the Security Council's position on Lebanon is unified."
Mikati also met with the Acting Director General of General Security, Major General Elias Bechara, accompanied by the General Security Council which included the directors: Youssef Madour, Ramzi Al-Rassi, Fawzi Shamoun, and Rabi' Qassab, during a congratulatory visit for Independence Day.
**Delegation from West Bekaa, Rashaya, and Jezzine**
Mikati received MP Yassin Yassin, along with a delegation of businessmen from West Bekaa, Rashaya, and Jezzine, led by the President of the Union of Municipalities of Qaroun, Yahiya Dahr. After the meeting, MP Yassin announced, "We came as a delegation of institutional owners from West Bekaa, Rashaya, and Jezzine, and we presented the issue of the high and unfair electricity tariffs. We conveyed to the President that Lebanese institutions are unable to continue under the steep increase in these tariffs." He added, "Last year, the Ministry of Energy increased the tariffs as part of a plan that included certain measures, and this plan and these measures were not adhered to, and the International Monetary Fund has addressed this issue."
Yassin pointed out that "the increase in tariffs without an increase in supply is futile." He stated: "We emphasized that business owners are unable to continue, given the electricity tariff that has multiplied several times compared to what it was, especially for small businesses that are the backbone of the economy, which import, export, and manufacture Lebanese products, thus promoting the informal economy and smuggling." He mentioned that he would talk to "the Minister of Energy, the responsible committee, and Electricité du Liban, hoping they would take notice of these institutions that are still resilient and struggling to survive in Lebanon."
**Metropolitan of Akkar**
President Mikati welcomed the Metropolitan of Akkar and its surroundings for the Greek Orthodox, Bishop Basilios Mansour, accompanied by former MP Nidal Tohme and George Rizk. After the meeting, Bishop Mansour announced: "I came with the directors of the schools affiliated with the bishopric to visit President Mikati, and we presented him with educational and academic demands, and we found him, as usual, in a very positive spirit to serve any area in Lebanon, and we thank him very much for the kind spirit and listening to our requests and responding to us."
**Mohammad Al-Hout**
President Mikati also welcomed Mohammad Al-Hout, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Middle East Airlines, to discuss the company's situation.
**Board of Trustees of Imam Al-Awza'i College**
Additionally, he received a delegation from the Board of Trustees of Imam Al-Awza'i College, and topics related to the college's educational matters were discussed during the meeting.
