Lebanon: Aoun, Mikati Resume Government Formation Talks

A handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows (R to L) Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting with President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital on August 17, 2022. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows (R to L) Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting with President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital on August 17, 2022. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
TT

Lebanon: Aoun, Mikati Resume Government Formation Talks

A handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows (R to L) Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting with President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital on August 17, 2022. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows (R to L) Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting with President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital on August 17, 2022. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati has resumed talks with President Michel Aoun on forming a government following weeks of deadlock over disagreements with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the presidency.

In a statement on Wednesday, Baabda Palace said that Aoun met with Mikati to discuss the formation of the new government.

Addressing reporters following the talks, the premier-designate said that the meeting focused on a cabinet lineup that he had presented to Aoun end of June, asserting that their viewpoints were “converging”.

Al-Jadeed channel reported that Mikati has informed the president of the details of the ministerial meeting held on Tuesday, and discussed with him several problems, including oil and electricity.

FPM MP Asaad Dergham said the lineup proposed by Mikati could see some minor amendments in order to form the government.

Separately, the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, said that work was underway to unify efforts among opposition parties and the new parliament members.

Following a meeting with Sweden’s ambassador to Lebanon, Ann Dismorr, Geagea expressed his rejection to any presidential settlement with the Hezbollah-led coalition.

"The concerns and interests of Hezbollah contradict with the interests of Lebanon," he said.



Jordan, Syria to Form Joint Committee to Secure their Border

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attend a press conference as they meet in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attend a press conference as they meet in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni
TT

Jordan, Syria to Form Joint Committee to Secure their Border

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attend a press conference as they meet in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attend a press conference as they meet in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni

Jordan and Syria agreed to form a joint security committee to secure their border and combat the smuggling of arms and drugs as well as cooperating to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Tuesday.

Safadi met in Amman on Tuesday with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, who said during a joint press conference that the latest US move to ease sanctions should be a step towards full lifting of sanctions.

Shibani said existing sanctions were a main hurdle to the recovery of Syria.

The United States on Monday issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months after the end of president Bashar al-Assad's rule to try to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance.