Jordan is committed to help Lebanon resolve its power crisis and meet its energy needs, Jordan's prime minister said on Thursday during a visit to Beirut.
The visit was the first by a senior foreign government official to Beirut since Najib Mikati’s Cabinet assumed its duties after a year of political paralysis that accelerated the country's financial meltdown.
“We have an interest in supporting Lebanon and preserving its stability, and we will not be late in securing its needs," Bisher Al Khasawneh told reporters after meeting the Lebanese prime minister.
The two officials discussed potential agreements to help energy-starved Lebanon meet its electricity needs, Mr Al Khasawneh said.
"We discussed the issue of importing gas and electricity to deal with the energy crisis, and efforts that are currently under way with our brothers to secure [Lebanon’s] needs from Jordan and a number of agreements that need to be ratified.”
“We want agreements that are beneficial to the Lebanese and Jordanian peoples, rather than fictitious deals.”
Mr Mikati said the energy minister will pursue discussions with his Jordanian counterpart in this regard.
Jordan fully reopened its main border crossing with Syria on Wednesday in a move that experts say could signal efforts to bring Syria back into the Arab fold.
The US, which has suspended its diplomatic presence in Syria in 2012, has agreed to help Lebanon secure electricity, President Michel Aoun’s office said this month, implying Washington was ready to waive sanctions that prohibit official transactions with Syria.
Mr Al Khasawneh, who also met Mr Aoun on Thursday, said Jordan was ready and committed to supporting Lebanon.
"President Aoun asked me to deliver a written letter addressed to HE King Abdallah," Mr Al Khasawneh told reporters before leaving the presidential palace to meet Speaker Nabih Berri.
Jordan had hosted a meeting this month in Amman along with the Egyptian, Syrian and Lebanese energy ministers to discuss Lebanon’s energy needs. The meeting followed a visit by a Lebanese delegation led by former deputy prime minister Zeina Akar to Damascus for the same purpose.
Damascus has said it was willing to help Lebanon import electricity to cover its power deficit.
Lebanon’s electricity problems have intensified in recent months as the state-owned power company further rationed its supply over fuel shortages.
The shortages have been sparked by the Central Bank’s decision to lift subsidies on fuel imports among other vital commodities to protect its dwindling foreign currency reserves.
On Wednesday, the government decided to ask the Central Bank to provide a $100 million loan to the state power company to boost its electricity supply, Energy Minister Walid Fayyad said. Electricity du Liban has been providing only up to four hours of power daily across many parts of the country.
Mr Fayyad said the government was seeking to boost power supply before deciding on raising electricity tariffs. The state-owned company has been operating at a loss for nearly two decades, selling electricity below production costs.
Private generators that used to make up for state power rationing have also cut their electricity supply because of diesel shortages that risked shutting down hospitals, schools and other vital infrastructure.
The shortages and deteriorating living conditions have sparked violence across the country as consumers compete for access to petrol and diesel.
The World Bank described Lebanon’s crisis as one of the most severe globally since the 1850s. The financial meltdown has plunged more than half the population into poverty with the local currency losing over 90 per cent of its value against the dollar and commercial banks denying depositors access to the bulk of their savings.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Valencia 3
Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'
Ferran Torres 67'
Atlanta 4
Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
