Prime Minister Najib Miqati confirmed the continued cooperation of all Lebanese ministries and administrations with relevant international organizations and civil society groups in implementing all necessary measures and steps as part of the government's emergency plan to confront the difficult circumstances we are facing and all possible scenarios that may arise. He emphasized that diplomatic communications are active in multiple directions to stop Israeli threats against Lebanon, and in another vein, to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. He pointed out that "the Lebanese government's paper which outlines the rules aimed at achieving long-term stability in southern Lebanon, announced last week, sets clear foundations for the solution, most notably de-escalation to avoid the destructive cycle of violence and that the international community plays a decisive and immediate role in calming tensions and curbing the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon." The Prime Minister stressed that "the most significant message he emphasizes in all his diplomatic meetings and communications is the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 as it is the cornerstone for ensuring stability and security in southern Lebanon." He noted that "Lebanon is following up with the concerned countries regarding the extension of the international forces operating in southern Lebanon" (UNIFIL) without change, pointing out at the same time that "cooperation between the Army and UNIFIL is essential at this stage, and what is being promoted about disagreements and divergences is not true," and that "anything that arises during the implementation of the required missions is addressed immediately." He also emphasized that "Lebanon is committed to UNIFIL's tasks."
The Prime Minister chaired an extensive meeting at the Grand Serail today that included Interior and Municipalities Minister Judge Bassam Mawlawi, Environment Minister Nasser Yassin, Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council Major General Muhammad Mustafa, as well as the governors of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, Bekaa, Nabatieh, Baalbek-Hermel, Akkar, and South Lebanon. After the meeting, Minister Yassin stated: "As part of the ongoing meetings, this meeting was held to ensure the readiness of the crisis and emergency cells at the provincial level and to strengthen them in case of a shortage or need to reinforce these cells, all within the framework of preparation and reinforcement in case the assaults expand to non-southern areas, especially since there are daily assaults in the south, and there are more than 100,000 displaced persons from the southern border areas currently distributed between the Nabatieh and South governorates." He added: "The discussion with the governors focused on three main issues: first, shelter centers. We prepared a list of these centers in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, which is collaborating through a working group studying the situation of each school. Some schools will be prepared, but we will not use them, and there are dozens of schools being verified for readiness, or essential matters that must be available to be converted into shelters, including bedding, hygiene, and basic food items. An agreement was reached with the governors on how to coordinate this matter in a decentralized framework so that everything is ready at a minimum level in case of an emergency in wide areas and to prepare all matters at a decentralized level." He also mentioned that they discussed all logistical matters so that the governors are fully prepared and agreed that their basic needs would be presented during the Cabinet meeting next Wednesday, which are already known but specifically how they can have some form of advances or open credits under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior for use in emergencies.
Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fehmi met with the Prime Minister, who said after the meeting: "We updated President Miqati on the latest developments regarding the electrical situation. The main issue today is the delay in executing the contract with Iraq, through which we could secure 600 megawatts of electricity. The execution is delayed due to the transfer processes that the Central Bank of Lebanon must carry out, but it demands that a law be ratified in the Parliament to provide a legal cover for these transfers. While awaiting the Parliament's session to ratify this law, President Miqati visited Iraq with a ministerial delegation to seek solutions to this issue, even if temporary, meaning we will rely on the Iraqis exceptionally to send shipments although the legal cover for the transfers is not available, while we await the Parliament's ability to meet under the title of 'urgent legislation' to ratify this law." He continued: "In this context, today’s meeting was to discuss exceptional remedies, and we kept the President informed of the communications we are making with Brigadier General Hassan Shaqir to secure a fuel shipment from Iraq designated for this month. There is logistical delay, but the shipment could arrive by the end of this month, thus we are in a difficult and precise phase, and we are exploring the possibility of taking exceptional measures to secure an additional quantity of fuel before the expected date, and this is the solution we are working on, and we may be able to pass it through the Council of Ministers. Additionally, we discussed that the Electricity of Lebanon should settle part of its obligations, noting that the obligations do not commence until the beginning of next year, but since the institution has some money through collections, it can meet part of its obligations in Lebanese currency, given that the account for Iraqi services is in Lebanese currency. It is possible that through transfers from electric institutions it can settle part of these obligations, and obtaining Lebanese currency for Electricity of Lebanon is linked to payment from governmental entities for their outstanding energy consumption bills. Therefore, we are working on this front to ensure prompt payment from governmental entities, especially since funds are available because a treasury advance has been given to governmental entities that are sluggish in securing funds to pay the Electricity of Lebanon, so the institution is ready to enter the funds allocated to it from the Ministry of Finance and then withdraw the funds to pay the Iraqis, thus effectively addressing the issue. It is preferable for this matter to pass through the government to encourage public institutions to pay faster. The treasury advance given to public institutions amounts to 6,400 billion Lebanese pounds, of which only 1,000 billion have been transferred to the Electricity of Lebanon. The remaining unpaid funds could form part of the solution for the Iraqi account."
In response to a question, he stated that "people are suffering from the consequences of the delays in Iraqi oil shipments. The Electricity of Lebanon is currently generating about 200 megawatts instead of 600 megawatts, and you all feel the difference in the power supply in your homes. The council does not convene for urgent legislation, and the main delay is due to this issue, and at the level of the government, we are doing everything we can to facilitate these matters."
