Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam chaired a cabinet session this afternoon, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tarek Mitri and Ministers of Finance Yassine Jaber, Culture Ghassan Salameh, Defense Michel Mansour, Energy and Water Joe Sfeir, Social Affairs Haneen El Sayed, Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Rajji, Economy and Trade Amer Al-Bissat, Displaced Persons and Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, Interior and Municipalities Brigadier General Ahmad al-Hajjar, Telecommunications Charles El Hajj, Youth and Sports Noura Beyrakdarian, Education and Higher Education Rema Karami, Industry Joe Issa El Khoury, Administrative Development Fady Makki, Labour Mohammad Haidar, Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, Agriculture Nizar Hani, Information Paul Malkass, and Environment Tamara El Zein. Also attending were Director General of the Presidency of the Republic Dr. Antoine Choucair and Secretary General of the Council of Ministers Judge Mahmoud Makkieh. Following the end of the session at around five o'clock, Minister of Information Paul Malkass made the following official statements: The Council of Ministers held its weekly session at the Grand Serail, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam, in the presence of the ministers, and in the absence of the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Justice. The Prime Minister stated that he is about to visit Syria at the head of a ministerial delegation, as part of strengthening bilateral relations, with a delegation comprising the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Ministers of Economy and Trade, Public Works and Transport, and Energy and Water, to discuss and enhance areas of cooperation each according to his respective ministerial portfolio, and Lebanese-Syrian relations in general. He also pointed to the contacts he is pursuing with a number of brotherly and friendly countries, in an effort to cement the ceasefire and prevent Israel from continuing its repeated attacks and the destruction of the villages it has occupied or kept under its fire. Subsequently, the agenda was discussed and most of its items were approved, notably items that, as you saw, were mostly administrative and pending, resulting from the war and the necessities of addressing its repercussions. Of course, they still are, but these were also among the necessities that could no longer tolerate delay, which is why the council convened, and it will continue to convene to discuss all matters. At the same time, God willing, next week you will see us in the usual ministerial meetings to discuss the issue of displacement, its repercussions, and its housing, food, and relief needs. Questions In response to a question about whether Lebanon has been informed of the date of the third meeting of the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Washington and whether Ambassador Simon Karam will attend. Minister Malkass said: We did not discuss that in the Council of Ministers, but of course there is coordination at the presidential level. Regarding the appointments file and the failure to follow the approved mechanisms, the Minister of Information said: I am not looking for any exception, but in general there is a mechanism that has been adopted, and as long as it has been adopted in the Council of Ministers since the beginning of this presidential term. Sometimes there is no ready proposal yet from the competent minister, and this is his affair. Because if the proposal does not come to us by name, and after the mechanism has been completed by the concerned minister, we do not discuss the matter in the Council of Ministers if it does not come through the ministerial mechanism based on the appointments mechanism that you know well. I am not talking about a specific example, but rather speaking generally. No, matters proceed in this manner. The Council of Ministers awaits the proposal of the minister, who must follow the required mechanism, and as long as it has not reached us, we naturally do not discuss it. He was asked: Did the Council of Ministers discuss the airstrike that targeted the southern suburb yesterday? He answered: The Prime Minister spoke specifically about his follow-up on contacts with brotherly and friendly countries in order to cement the ceasefire and prevent the recurrence of these attacks, especially the acts of destruction affecting the occupied southern villages or those that Israel has kept under its fire. The talk was clear in this framework and included the intensive international efforts and contacts being conducted by President Salam. He was asked: Is President Salam's stance against President of the Republic Joseph Aoun's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu? He answered: We did not discuss this matter, and this is a matter related to His Excellency the President in agreement with the Prime Minister, according to Article 52 of the Constitution, and afterwards it is referred back to the constitutional institutions properly. In response to a question, he said: "Yes, that is correct, in addition to the portfolios held by the concerned ministers, the Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tarek Mitri has received a file from the Ministry of Information regarding the case of the forcibly concealed photographer Samir Kassab, and I have always followed up on this matter with the former Syrian Minister of Information. I entrusted Dr. Mitri with this file, and he is enthusiastic to discuss it. He has discussed it previously and will follow up on it this time as well, within the framework of bilateral relations, in an effort to move forward and achieve a result, God willing. Regarding the tension on the Lebanese-Syrian border and whether there are reassurances? Minister Malkass said: "The issue was not raised in this session of the Council of Ministers, but it was presented in the last ministerial meeting held last Monday. The Minister of National Defense presented the military developments in the south and the developments on the Lebanese-Syrian border. There is handling by both the Lebanese and Syrian sides when sensitive issues arise, including someone crossing the border, and it is handled at the bilateral level with complete realism and solutions are found for it. This does not mean it will not be discussed in upcoming ministerial meetings, but it is being handled upon occurrence. He was asked: Will the visit carry names of other Syrian convicts? He answered: I am not aware that the Minister of Justice will be present within the ministerial delegation. I would also like to point out that the Deputy Prime Minister is also concerned with this file if it is raised.