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English

Apple growers to the streets again to claim their compensation entitlements

12-4-2017

The president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, warned in a statement yesterday the end to the suspension of protests in wake of the Cabinet meeting on Monday which, he said, totally disregarded an early decision to compensate apple growers. To recall, the government has decided back  in October 2016 to support the marketing of apples through the compensation of LBP 5 thousand for each apple box. In the latest updates on the issue, apple farmers are reportedly preparing for a sit-in this Thursday to speed up the solution. Meanwhile, a broad meeting between the Farmers Association, the Higher Relief Committee (HRC) and Army officers has resulted in an arrangement which provides for a fair and proportionate distribution of the total amount of compensation. Accordingly, payment procedures are expected to begin after presentation of agreed mechanism by the Cabinet and the issuance of some 30,000 cheques to be distributed after the Easter holidays and before the end of this month. However, tension rose again with the call for demonstrations by the Farmers Association as mentioned above. To this effect, Howayek appealed to the government and the HRC to commit to the agreed mechanism, warning of any tampering with the settlement of payments that needs to be completed by the end of Easter holidays. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, April 12, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 
Local farmers still awaiting their entitlements
Reimbursement of apple growers and the plight of potato growers in Akkar
Back to square one concerning citrus and apple marketing
Agriculture of Lebanon further deteriorates in 2016
 

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Workshop on thyme growing in Labaya/Beqaa

12-4-2017

In cooperation with the Jihad al Binaa Development Association, the Agricultural Cooperative of the Beqaa town of Labaya and Labaya municipality organized yesterday an extension workshop on ‘thyme cultivation’. The course was presented by agriculture engineer Ahmad Issa with the participation of a number of local farmers who learned about the basics and proper care methods for the growing of thyme. During the workshop, the Cooperative president pressed the need for an increased government backing to the agriculture sector which constitutes an essential source of the livelihoods for a large number of Beqaa households. The Government, he said, should extend all forms of support to strengthen farmers’ steadfastness to their land. He also drew attention to the Cooperative’s active role in sustaining agriculture in the town, through spreading the culture of awareness or through provision of required machinery, seedlings or fertilizers for farmers. At the end of the course, thousands of thyme seedlings were distributed among beneficiaries. (Al Diyar, April 12, 2017)

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BIFEX 2017 to support entrepreneurship and SMEs

11-4-2017

The director general of the ministry of economy and trade, Alia Abbas, representing minister Raed Khoury, and the Lebanese Franchise Association (LFA) President, Charles Arbeed, announced yesterday the launch of the 7th edition of the annual Beirut International Franchise Forum and Exhibition – BIFEX 2017. The event which will be held at Biel from April 26 – 27 is sponsored by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and is held under the banner, ‘the Lebanon’s distinguished mark: a drive to prosperity’. On the occasion, Arbeed said that the present reconciliation in the country inspires a quantum leap that restores the dynamism of the national economy and livens up Lebanon’s reputation in the region and the world. This in fact, Arbeed added, “represents our main motive in the development of a national strategy that supports the motto ‘Lebanon’s distinguished mark’.” The forum this year will present a rich resource molded by renowned local and international expertise and will contribute to disseminating novel ideas on sectorial and economic trends, allowing participants access to in-depth and specialized know-how, Arbeed explained. For her part, Abbas identified the objectives the LFA is seeking to apply through the forum, namely: promote entrepreneurship and support the small and medium enterprises (SMEs); protect intellectual copyrights, particularly in the franchise sector in Lebanon, and finally, exchange expertise among the parties involved. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, April 11, 2017)

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French legion of Honor to Lamia Bsat, President of the Bassil Fuleihan Institute of Finance

11-4-2017

The French Ambassador to Lebanon, Emmanuel Bonne, handed the director of the Institut des Finances Basil Fuleihan (IoF), Lamia Mbayyed Bsatt, the national order of Legion of Honor from the rank of Knight. It should be noted, that Bsat has earlier received the same order of distinction on July 13, 2015 from French President Francois Hollande in recognition of her efforts to promote Lebanese-French relations and build sustainable partnerships with French and European institutions. On the occasion, Bonn praised the accomplishment of the chair of IoF which has become an established pillar for the rehabilitation and training of employees in public departments in Lebanon and for strengthening the state-run establishments. The ambassador also lauded Bsat’s commitment to support the construction of the state of institutions in the country and her contribution to towards a credible public administration. Bonn mentioned Bsat’s role in research on good governance, especially through IoF’s periodic newsletter specialized in state finance and the modernization of the state. This, Bonn maintained, has helped in enriching debate and enhancement of the public sector in terms of future state policies, commending also her role in enlivening regional cooperation and dialogue through her participation in the launch of the Governance Institutes Forum for Training in the Middle East and North Africa region – GIFT-MENA whose secretariat is hosted by the IoF. Bsat, in her turn, pledged to carry on with her mission armed with a solid belief in the State and its institutions and pride in engaging in state service. “Realizing peace and development is impossible outside a strong state,” Bsatt said, stressing that achieving a capable and powerful public administration prompts the building of human capital. “This undoubtedly means the building of a modern and equal opportunity management of employment based on merit and skill, and a continuous development of competencies,” Bsatt concluded. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, April 11, 2017)

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Joyce Azzam prepares for climbing Kilimanjaro with 3 young Lebanese women

11-4-2017

After her last hike to the Aconcagua summit (6962m), (news: http://bit.ly/2oZUsKu), Lebanese mountaineering champion, Joyce Azzam, is preparing, along with three other Lebanese women, Ghaydaa, Lyan and Rawan Dakik (aged 13-16 years) from the southern town of Haris, to hit the 5883m peak of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The expected period of the journey is 7 days passing through the Mashami trail which boasts distinctive features. Azzam’s planned journey will reportedly focus on provision of support for her peers and encouraging them to aim for innovative ventures that uplift the status of women in her country and help them demonstrate their sportive and intellectual capacities. Azzam also seeks to spread awareness on sports among young men and women bringing on a new dynamic and active lifestyle. It should be noted, that Azzam is sponsored by the WE Initiative of the BLC bank and is considered the ambassador of this landmark program which has taken a global dimension. The program to recall is aimed at empowering Lebanese women economically by helping them realize their potentials. The climber also benefits from the support of women empowerment activist, Claudine Aoun Rukoz, besides the Patrouille Des Sommets initiative administered by retired general Chamel Rukoz. (Al Hayat, April 11, 2017)
 
Previous related news: 

BLC supports a Lebanese woman in reaching Mount Aconcagua

 

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Fadia Kiwan’s chances slim for nomination to ESCWA’s USG 

11-4-2017

Dr. Fadia Kiwan, nominated for the post of UN Under-Secretary General, disclosed yesterday that she received a letter from the UN Secretary General’s Office on Friday noting what the “great difficulty in the selection of candidates” and informing her that another person will most likely be shortlisted for the position. The letter, on the other hand, mentioned the impression Kiwan left after her interview with the UN Office team, who commended her “professionalism, knowledge and approach to the work of the United Nations”. Meanwhile, Kiwan, revealed that she has known from informal UN sources that her government’s backing for her nomination was very shy compared to other candidates. It should be noted, that foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, has assigned Lebanon’s UN Representative Nawaf Salam to follow up the file and carry out the necessary contacts to support her. However, Kiwan told L’Orient Le Jour newspaper that she did not receive solid backing from her country, pointing out that Bassil’s move was not enough, lamenting that the government could have contacted Arab officials to support up her candidature. Lebanon, Kiwan stated, has lost the opportunity to be represented at such an important platform, noting that since the establishment of ESCWA in Beirut in 1973, not one Lebanese has had the chance to assume its governance. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 11, 2017)

Previous related news: 

Fadia Kiwan for executive secretary of ESCWA
 

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Amendment of current domestic violence law better frames violence

10-4-2017

The Ministry of Justice and Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation organization held on Friday a joint press conference announcing a draft amendment of Law No. 293/2014 on the protection of women and family members against domestic violence promulgated three years ago by the Lebanese parliament. On the occasion, Minister Salim Jreisati highlighted the suggested modifications which involved the writing of a clear and explicit text related to domestic violence that explains a misuse of authority within a family. Said alterations, Jreisati maintained, note that an act of domestic violence which requires a special treatment with its corollaries or consequences, including murder, permanent or temporary physical disabilities, physical or moral abuse, restriction of freedoms and economic dependence or damages, be considered a crime of its own, and is efficiently, urgently and flexibly punishable for its detrimental consequences. Jreisati indicated that he will submit the draft law to the Cabinet for endorsement and referral to Parliament, hoping such amendments will contribute to addressing the negative impact of the phenomenon of violence largely suffered by children and women in particular. For his part, the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, lauded what he described as ‘needed’ reforms to the effect of promoting the protection of battered women and their family members, reminding of the importance of setting up special care centers across the Lebanese regions in this regard. similarly, Kafa director, Zoya Ruhana, recalled an unprecedented surge in the number of visits by abused women to the organization’s support center, (by 275% during the year which followed the enactment of the law as compared to the previous year). (For more details on the proposed amendments, please visit the following link http://bit.ly/2oh5TvX. (Al Hayat, An Nahar, April 7 and 8, 2017)

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President Aoun praises exhibitions that promote country’s tourism

10-4-2017

The HORECA Expo and Forum 2017 closed last Friday ending a four-day festival which saw the participation of over 350 local and international companies from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Emirates, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Korea and Turkey, in addition to some 500 professionals in food and hospitality services, more than 2500 renowned brands, and over 15 thousand guests from professionals and experts. On the occasion of preparation of the international event, President Michel Aoun received last Friday a joint delegation from the HORECA team and the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, where he underlined the significance of similar initiatives in promoting tourism in Lebanon. Aoun also paid a special tribute to the ‘Lebanese cuisine’ which he described as one of the main pillars of the tourism sector, pledging to continue to support it through the provision of the standards of excellence, hygiene and safety and to market it globally. In the same context, the general secretary of the Syndicate Wadii Kanaan, said in an interview with Al Balad newspaper on the sidelines of the HORECA expo,  that the Syndicate in coordination with the tourism industry has completed a special study on the conditions of tourism in the country. The purpose, he said, is to focus on the sector’s present status in order to reach the anticipated proper solutions, some of which have been completed. Kanaan disclosed that the first 3-year phase of the tourism policy is linked to recovery, promising an eventful summer season ( AL Diyar, AL Balad, April 5 and 8, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 

HORECA 2017 honors 12 restaurants for their role in establishing the Lebanese cuisine
 

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Ogassapian: women’s participation in decision-making is essential

10-4-2017

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, emphasized on Friday that women’s engagement in decision-making positions is not a formality but rather a necessity. Speaking during a dialogue session held by the Future Movement Women’s Department, the minister pointed out that the representation quota is a transitional phase and that granting women their rights is primarily a man’s responsibility. “I believe that Lebanese women is capable of assuming the roles of the good mother, the active member of society and the efficient politician,” he said, which explains the Future Movement’s policy to demonstrate this on the ground. Pointing that women make nearly 40% of the Movement’s political bureau, Ogassapian pledged to expand it and to bring in more women into its different sectors and eventually in the Future’s parliamentary bloc. Likewise, the Women’s Department coordinator, May Tabbal, underlined the importance of lobbying to realize the minimum 30% women’s quota in electoral laws, making clear that changing discriminatory texts against women is one of the priorities of the Future Movement, particularly in the labor law, the social security law and the nationality law, as well as enactment of draft laws for the protection of women and family members. In a similar note, Ogassapian commended women’s role in society, spelling out that his endeavor since he took office was and will remain to promote conditions of Lebanese women and set up a proper slogan and social media website for his ministry. The Minister was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Friends Heart Association of Mansouriyeh under the auspicious of the Qaim Maqam of North Matn, Marlene Hadad. (Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, April 8, 2017)

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The journey of Rabab Sadr, president of Imam el Sadr Institutions

10-4-2017

In a special feature today, L’Orient Le Jour highlighted the life of the president of Imam Mousa el Sadr Institutions, and sister of disappeared Imam Moussa Sadr. Speaking to the reporter, Raba Sadr revealed that she is seeking to carry on the mission and vision of her elder brother who brought her up and inspired her actions. His disappearance, she said, was the main motivation for her work with families of missing persons who were abducted during the country’s civil war, regardless of their religious affiliations. Sadr mediated with heads of various political parties whom she barely knew in an attempt to save the lives of many, she noted. On her social and professional life, Sadr, a grandmother to 11 grandchildren, said she started her career life with fashion design and later received a scholarship to study drawing and painting in Italy. Not forgetting to mention her passion for poetry, she told L’Orient Le Jour reporter that she has recently earned her doctorate degree in philosophy. During her leisure time, Sadr said she likes to watch good movies or indulge in knitting and handicraft hobbies. And despite that she comes from a family of committed believers, she added that she never was prevented from doing what she loved, and was encouraged by her imam brother and his wife to follow her ambitions. Even the laws were never an obstacle to her ventures, particularly in field of human rights, mentioning she did not feel any inferior treatment for wearing the ‘hijab’ or for being a woman. Rabab Sadr pointed out that she feels at ease in Christian communities, especially when she visits churches, where she recites religious texts and sermons. Sadr finally said that women do not have to protest in order to claim their natural rights; but rather they should practice those rights in their daily lives and impose on society their realities. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 10, 2017)

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