(UPDATE) MIKATI VISITS DAR AL-FATWA, MEETS MUFTI DERIAN

Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, on Monday welcomed at Dar Al-Fatwa, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with whom he broached the current general situation. The meeting took place in the presence of the directors of Dar Al-Fatwa's affiliated facilities. Speaking on emerging, Premier Mikati said that his visit to Dar Al-Fatwa today comes to extend greetings and best wishes to His Eminence and to all Muslims, in particular, and the Lebanese, in general, on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan. Premier Mikati said, 'As customary every year, and at the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan, I pay a visit to Dar Al-Fatwa and extend my greetings and wishes to His Eminence and the virtuous, and to all Muslims, in particular, and the Lebanese, in general, hoping that this month will be a month of goodness, blessings, peace, well-being and peace of mind for all the Lebanese.' Mikati added that discussions during the meeting touched on the country's general conditions , saying, 'we talked about all the situations we are going through in these times.' Regarding fears of a widespread Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Mikati said: 'We are following up contacts with all those concerned locally and internationally to keep war away from Lebanon despite everything that our country has endured so far, especially in terms of the number of martyrs whose souls we salute. And God willing, things will not escalate further.' In response to a question whether he expects an imminent president election, Mikati said: 'I hope that the elections will be held as soon as possible, because the election is necessary for the proper functioning of the constitutional institutions and for the commencement of the required reform process.' Mikati concluded by saying that electing a president marks "the beginning of hope for reform and solution in the country." Source: National News Agency - Lebanon