CAIRO: The United Arab Emirates participated in an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Council regarding Palestine, which was held yesterday in Cairo, Egypt.
Mariam Khalifa Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, headed the UAE delegation.
In her speech at the Arab League headquarters, Ambassador Al Kaabi affirmed that the UAE continues to mobilise efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Al Kaabi underscored the UAE’s dedication to provide protection for civilians, extend humanitarian aid, and collaborate with partners to work towards a comprehensive peace solution.
During her address, Al Kaabi highlighted the proactive stance of the UAE’s leadership, which has engaged in numerous diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives in support of the Palestinian cause.
She emphasised the success of the UAE’s non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, during which resolutions 2712 and 2720 were adopted.
Al Kaabi highl
ighted that the UAE strongly condemns Israel’s policy of collective punishment against Palestinians and reiterated the UAE’s rejection of any attempts to displace them. She stressed the nation’s unwavering focus on safeguarding civilian lives, providing essential relief and medical aid to Gaza residents, and preventing further escalation that could threaten regional stability.
The extraordinary meeting, at the level of permanent representatives of member states in the Arab League and convened at the request of Palestine with the backing of Arab countries, discussed Israeli actions against the Palestinian people. Discussions also centred on potential political, legal, and economic measures to be supported within the Arab League framework.
The meeting highlighted the escalating Israeli offenses in the West Bank, the systematic destruction of infrastructure in Palestinian refugee camps, daily raids in dozens of cities, villages, and camps, the killing and injuring of hundreds of Palestinian citizens, the demol
ition of homes, and the inhumane detention of thousands.
Source: Emirates News Agency
The Lebanese Association for Taxpayers’ Rights (ALDIC) met with the Head of Al Kataeb party and Kataeb Parliamentary Bloc, MP Samy Gemayel, in his office, in Bekfaya.
ALDIC delegation presented to MP Gemayel its 2023 report, prepared in collaboration with the “Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’ foundation and ‘The Policy Initiative’, and which assesses the public financial management in Lebanon. The delegation briefed him on the main details of the report, and tackled the laws that could facilitate the implementation of the anticipated reforms.
The meeting was attended by ALDIC board members Mr. Jean Tawile and Mr. Nadim Daher, as well as ALDIC coordinator in Bina project, Ms. Racha Saadeh Chehab, who were received by MP Gemayel in the presence of Mr. Patrick Risha, head of media affairs, and Ms. Lara Saadeh, head of legislative affairs within the Kataeb party.
MP Gemayel affirmed alignment of most of ALDIC’s ideas with his party’s demands and financial policy, emphasizing Kataeb bloc’s advocacy for structural ref
orms and managing the public financial management problems. He also expressed readiness for collaboration with ALDIC, other parliamentary blocs, and representatives of the civil society, in order to find solutions and reach the long awaited reforms.
From its end, ALDIC delegation stressed on transparent and proper public fund management’s urgency, a vital necessity for Lebanon particularly in view of lack of transparency and accountability, in addition to the overwhelming crisis.
This visit marks the start of a series of meetings by ALDIC with parliamentary bloc representatives to introduce the 2023 report on public financial management. Coordination with all stakeholders is underway to reach effective solutions. These meetings are part of the “Bina'” initiative financed by the European Union, aiming to legislate the necessary laws in compliance with the principles of public financial management.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon