Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired a meeting today at the Government Palace, which included Minister of Finance Youssef Khalil, Acting Governor of the Central Bank Wassim Mansouri, Director General of Finance George Maarawi, and former Minister and advisor to the Prime Minister Nicolas Nahas. The meeting discussed the measures taken by the Central Bank to stabilize the financial situation and fix the exchange rate. The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the Ministry of Finance in tax and fee collection, as well as the work of the Central Bank in the current circumstances Lebanon is facing.
### Electricity Meeting
The Prime Minister also chaired a second meeting that included Minister of Finance Youssef Khalil, Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad, Acting Governor of the Central Bank Wassim Mansouri, Director General of Finance George Maarawi, Director General of Electricité du Liban Kamal Gabbak, and former Minister and advisor to the Prime Minister Nicolas Nahas. It was agreed to hold a meeting next Tuesday at the Ministry of Finance between the ministry and Electricité du Liban to address the issue of state payments due to Electricité du Liban and the dues owed to public institutions and independent agencies, within a specified deadline that will be agreed upon to avoid drastic measures by Electricité du Liban.
### International Olive Council Meeting
The Prime Minister met, in the presence of Minister of Agriculture Abbas Hajj Hassan, with the Executive Director of the International Olive Council Abdel Latif Ghedira. Minister Hajj Hassan informed Prime Minister Mikati about the developments in the relationship and cooperation between the International Olive Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lebanese government. In turn, Executive Director Ghedira explained to Prime Minister Mikati the areas of cooperation, whether in expanding olive tree planting areas or in the processes of olive oil production, packaging, and marketing.
Prime Minister Mikati requested the formation of a technical committee to prepare a comprehensive report after conducting an assessment of the damages caused by Israeli attacks on olive fields, especially during this year's olive harvest season in the southern border areas, and the implications of "the enemy's use of internationally banned phosphorus bombs on this sector." He called for accurate documentation of the incoming reports to file a complaint against the Israeli enemy.
