Egypt, Algeria Agree on Full Support for Tunisian President

Tunisian President Kais Saied addresses the nation in this screengrab taken from Tunisian President's office footage, Tunisia July 25, 2021. TUNISIAN PRESIDENT'S OFFICE/via REUTERS TV
Tunisian President Kais Saied addresses the nation in this screengrab taken from Tunisian President's office footage, Tunisia July 25, 2021. TUNISIAN PRESIDENT'S OFFICE/via REUTERS TV
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Egypt, Algeria Agree on Full Support for Tunisian President

Tunisian President Kais Saied addresses the nation in this screengrab taken from Tunisian President's office footage, Tunisia July 25, 2021. TUNISIAN PRESIDENT'S OFFICE/via REUTERS TV
Tunisian President Kais Saied addresses the nation in this screengrab taken from Tunisian President's office footage, Tunisia July 25, 2021. TUNISIAN PRESIDENT'S OFFICE/via REUTERS TV

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed with Algerian Foreign Minster Ramdane Lamamra on Sunday on full support for Tunisian President Kais Saied, the Egyptian presidency said.

"Consensus was reached... towards full support for Tunisian President Kais Saied and everything that would maintain stability in Tunisia and implement the will and choices of the brotherly Tunisian people, in order to preserve their capabilities and the security of their country," a presidency statement said.

The statement was issued after a meeting between Sisi and Lamamra.

Saied has suspended parliament, lifted the immunity of parliament members, fired the prime minister and took control of the executive branch. He said the move was necessary to save the country amid public anger at the government over joblessness, rising prices and one of Africa’s worst coronavirus outbreaks.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.