Beirut Awaits Appointment of Russian Committee Members on Syrian Refugees

Putin and Aoun shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. AP photo
Putin and Aoun shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. AP photo
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Beirut Awaits Appointment of Russian Committee Members on Syrian Refugees

Putin and Aoun shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. AP photo
Putin and Aoun shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. AP photo

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has concluded a series of meetings to set a timetable for the return of Syrian refugees to their home country in an organized manner.

Aoun had addressed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the sponsor of Moscow’s initiative on securing the return of displaced Syrians.

However, a source informed about the Russian-Lebanese summit, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the zero hour for the initiative has not yet been determined.

Several political figures criticized the joint statement that was issued following the Putin-Aoun meeting in Moscow last month, for failing to choose the Russian members of the Committee responsible for arranging the repatriation of Syrians, except for the name of Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin.

The source said that the Committee has Russian and Lebanese members, and that several Lebanese ministers would attend its meetings when discussions are set to focus on issues that concern their ministries. For example, the source said Lebanese Interior Minister Rayya Hassan would attend some of the Committee’s sessions when talks tackle security matters.

“The Russian side would be responsible for implementing decisions on securing the safe return of refugees inside Syria,” he said.

The source expects Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to visit Moscow when the structure of the joint Committee is ready.

“What Aoun and Putin agreed on should be revealed when Moscow completes appointing members of the Russian delegation in the Committee,” the source said.

It added that the Lebanese delegation has been formed and it includes adviser Georges Shaaban, representing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Amal Abu Zeid, representing Bassil and head of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, in addition to the minister concerned with the topic on the agenda of the talks.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.