The head of the Progressive Socialist Party, MP Timur Jumblatt, warned about the trajectory of current affairs amidst the accumulating complications, security messages, and continuous incitement in sensitive matters such as the Syrian refugees file, all of which indicate further tension. He stated that to confront this situation, all concerned forces must engage in dialogue, elect a president, and cease wasting time, which exacerbates the ongoing collapse in all areas of life and state sectors.
Jumblatt made these remarks during a statement on the sidelines of his weekly receptions at Khuraytem Palace, where he met with Minister of Agriculture Abbas al-Hajj Hassan along with a delegation from the ministry, in the presence of the head of the Chouf Nature Reserve Committee, Faisal Abu Azeddine, and the reserve's director, Nizar Hani. Attending the meeting were MPs Wail Abu Faour, Hadi Abu al-Hassan, Bilal Abdullah, and Faisal al-Sayigh, where various agricultural issues in the Chouf region and the nature reserve's vital area were discussed and ways to enhance these aspects were suggested.
Jumblatt also met with popular delegations and figures to discuss urgent life and social issues, including a large delegation from the town of Barouk led by Mayor Eli Nakhle, along with sheikhs, townspeople, and local figures who expressed their gratitude to Jumblatt for his help in ensuring a sustainable water supply for the town and providing several essential services. The meeting was also attended by Younes al-Jurmani, the director of the Water Authority in Aley and Chouf.
Additionally, Jumblatt met with a delegation from Haret Naameh led by Sheikh Tarek Mazhar and mayors Jihad Fakher al-Din and Shadi Hatoum, along with another delegation that included the merchants' committee from Baqaatta and the municipal council, requesting his sponsorship for the annual festival to be held in the town on September 29.
He also met with a delegation from the Women's Pastoral Committee of the Maronite Diocese of Zahle, led by committee chairwoman Najwa Abu Eid and a large number of women. Lastly, he met with a large delegation from the Arab Youth Tourism Forum, which included participants from 13 countries organized by the Lebanese Youth Houses Federation.
**Minister of Agriculture**
After commencing his tour in the Chouf region starting from Khuraytem Palace, Minister of Agriculture Abbas al-Hajj Hassan continued his tour by visiting the Cedars of Chouf Nature Reserve and the research center affiliated with the reserve, where he was welcomed by its board of directors and several employees. He learned about its ongoing work and planted a cedar tree there. He then visited two factories for the processing of olive waste and a factory specializing in the production of agricultural fertilizer, a substance added to the soil to improve its texture and physical, chemical, and biological properties.
The last stop was in the town of Marsti, where he held a meeting with farmers, mayors, federations, local leaders, and influential figures from the region to discuss support for farmers, farmers' records, assisting cooperative activities, and the projects carried out by the ministry in cooperation with donor agencies.
