Category: Key Issues

Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, received, at his Yarze office on Tuesday, Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardiere, who paid him a farewell visit upon winding her diplomatic mission in Lebanon.

Caretaker Minister Sleem expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Bombardieri’s efforts in strengthening the Italian-Lebanese relations, valuing Italy’s continued support for Lebanon, especially the aid it provides to the army.

Discussions during the meeting touched on the current situation and developments in Lebanon and the region.

Sleem later received respectively MPs Elias Estefan, Melhem Hojairi and Adib Abdel Massih, with whom he discussed the country’s latest developments.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Baghdad, The head of the Iraqi National State Forces Alliance, Ammar al-Hakim, denounced the targeting of the Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Al-Hakim said in a statement: ‘We strongly denounce and condemn the Israeli aggression against the Syrian capital, which targeted a building belonging to the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which led to the martyrdom of a number of its employees and advisors.’

He called on “the international community to take urgent measures to force the occupying entity to stop its continued violations of the sovereignty of other countries, considering what happened a blatant violation of international norms and conventions that consider embassies and diplomatic places a sanctuary that cannot be involved in disputes.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad, A high-level Representative of the US Administration announced on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden held a telephone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about relations between Washington and Beijing.

She said that the two leaders reviewed “the bilateral relationship between the United States and China, the continued importance of strengthening communication channels, responsible management of competition (between Washington and Beijing), and a range of regional and global issues.”

The US Administration Representative also indicated that the phone conversation was also “an opportunity to discuss problems outside bilateral relations.”

In addition, Biden reaffirmed America’s commitment to the “One China Policy” and stressed “the need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, especially ahead of the inauguration” of Taipei’s next president, Lai Chengde, which is expected to take place on May 20.

The US Administration Representative continued: “President Biden informed
President Xi Jinping of his ‘concern about unfair economic practices’ and conveyed to him that Washington will continue to ‘take measures to protect its economic and national security interests.’

For his part, the Chinese President assured his American counterpart that the Taiwan issue is a “red line” in relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States, and Beijing will not turn a blind eye to any external support to encourage its independence.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and the United States should strengthen dialogue, resolve differences, and enhance international coordination between the two countries.

On November 15, 2023, Biden and Xi Jinping met in a suburb of San Francisco, during the Chinese President’s first visit to the United States in six years.

As Xinhua reported at the time, the two leaders agreed to ‘restore high-level contacts between the armed forces of the two countries on the basis of equality and respect,’ and working meetings were held between the Defense Min
isters of the People’s Republic of China and the United States, as a mechanism for consultation on maritime security issues and talks by telephone were held between the commanders of the combat command sectors.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

NEW YORK: António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, condemned the attack on diplomatic premises of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus on 1st April, as well as the reported casualties.

He reaffirmed that the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in all cases in accordance with international law.

Guterres reminded all parties to respect all their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, as applicable. He also reiterated his calls on all concerned to avoid attacks that could harm civilians and damage civilian infrastructure.

The Secretary-General further called on all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and avoid further escalation.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Former Progressive Socialist Party Chief, Walid Jumblatt, on Tuesday condemned the Israeli targeting of the Iranian consulate building in Damascus.

Jumblatt offered condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the fallen victims, and stressed his denunciation of the targeting of diplomatic headquarters, ‘which is a violation of international laws and the rules of diplomatic immunity.’

Jumblatt, who offered his condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the victims who fell in the consulate building attack, reiterated his condemnation of the targeting of the diplomatic headquarters, “which constitutes a violation of international laws and the rules of the diplomatic immunity.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon