2021-05-17 14:35:45 GMT2021-05-17 22:35:45(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
BEIRUT, May 17 (Xinhua) Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni said on Monday that Italy supports any initiative that would contribute to overcoming the current political stalemate in Lebanon, a statement by Lebanon s Presidency reported. The European Union is currently studying all means at its disposal to take a balanced and effective step in this context, Sereni said following her meeting at Baabda Palace with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
She noted that any solution must assure the need to protect the population and improve all living conditions.
Sereni also reiterated Italy s urgent call for Lebanese political parties to set aside their differences and cooperate in forming a new government that would put Lebanon back on track for sustainable development.
Introduction
On April 23, 2021, customs authorities at the Saudi port of Jeddah announced that they had thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs – mainly Captagon (fenethylline hydrochloride) pills, an amphetamine drug popular in the Middle East –
in a shipment of pomegranates arriving from Lebanon. Subsequently, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced that beginning April 25, the country would accept no Lebanese imports of agricultural produce. The ministry added that it had previously warned Lebanese authorities about the increase in drug smuggling attempts from its territory, and that the ban would remain in force until the Lebanese authorities provide satisfactory and documented guarantees that they have taken the necessary steps to stop the systematic smuggling against the kingdom.
country once a Cabinet was formed.
Mr Hariri, who met the pontiff during a visit to Rome, asked him to help Lebanon tackle its political and economic crises.
Lebanon has been without a government since Hassan Diab resigned as prime minister after the
devastating explosion at Beirut’s port last August.
But Mr Aoun and Mr Hariri, who was appointed last October, have not yet agreed on how to allocate ministerial posts that respect the country’s sectarian power-sharing agreement.
The political deadlock
deepened Lebanon’s financial and economic crises. Its currency lost more than 85 per cent of its market value against the US dollar and inflation is soaring.
Cairo: Lebanon’s premier-designate Saad Al Hariri has said that Pope Francis is interested in visiting Lebanon, but after a government is installed in the crisis-hit country.
“His Holiness the pope will visit Lebanon but after the formation of the government,” Al Hariri tweeted following talks with Francis in the Vatican.
Hariri, a veteran politician, was picked to form the Lebanese government. But he has since failed to stitch together a government amid a dispute with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
“This is a message to all Lebanese and political factions that we have to expedite the formation of the government,” Al Hariri added in a series of tweets.