Hariri follows up on Palestinian refugees census, receives Spanish ambassador and Roukoz

NNA – Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, received today at the Grand Serail the President of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee Hassan Mneimne and the Director General of the Central Administration of Statistics in Lebanon Maral Tutelian.

The meeting focused on the Comprehensive Census of Population and Housing in Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon, a project of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee in partnership with the Central Administration of Statistics in Lebanon and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

During the meeting, the director of the project Abdelnasser Al-Ayi said that the preparatory stage has been completed and the executive one has started.

He presented the goals of the project and its importance in providing clear data about the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in order to develop appropriate social policies.

He explained that the census includes all residents of the 12 Palestinian camps and all Palestinian refugees residing in the 126 areas and communities adjacent to the camps.
Tutelian said that the project is a founding step that will benefit the Central Administration of Statistics in Lebanon in acquiring expertise and techniques for its future projects.

Hariri also received retired Brigadier General Chamel Roukoz who said after the meeting: “We discussed the situation in Lebanon, particularly in Keserwan and I called on the Prime Minister to pay compensations to the apple farmers who could not sell their apples as the season was harmed by the weather. Prime Minister Hariri promised to pay compensations to a large group as soon as possible and to the rest later on.”

Asked if they discussed the electoral law, Roukoz said: “We discussed the issue and he shared his ideas with me. I personally support the proportional law in general. The atmosphere is positive and the issue can be solved through openness and positivity. The electoral law is essential to the stability in the country and this law should be fair and reassuring to all and this is the concern of Prime Minister Hariri and President Aoun.”

Asked if there will be a new law, he said that there should be a new law and the elections should take place before the end of September.

Hariri also met with the Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Milagros Hernando Echevarria and discussed with her the local and regional situation and the bilateral relations.

Hariri later received the President of the Dar al-Fatwa Lebanese Committee in Kuwait Hassan Houhou who said that they discussed the electoral law, adding that he submitted a project to support the Lebanese Army through establishing an expatriate’s fund to finance the army by donating one dollar from each Lebanese expatriate.

He also received the President of Beirut Marathon Association May Khalil who updated him on the activities of the Association.

Hariri later on met with the Education Minister Marwan Hamade and the Minister of State for Human Rights Ayman Choucair. Discussions focused on the situation and the ongoing contacts regarding the electoral law.