Representatives of several families, clans, and local dignitaries from the Northern Bekaa held a meeting to welcome Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s visit to the region.
The participants described the visit as a promising step toward restoring the role and presence of the state in an area that has long faced neglected and accumulated social, economic, and development challenges.
They called for the visit to be followed by rapid and practical measures addressing urgent issues affecting the region. They also expressed hope that these priorities would receive the attention of President Joseph Aoun and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri because of their social, humanitarian, economic, cultural, and developmental importance.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mohamed Nassereldine presented a list of urgent priorities to the Prime Minister.
The demands included:
- Taking swift action to address the continuing Syrian displacement crisis.
- Finding rapid solutions for 38 border villages that were damaged and whose residents were displaced.
- Demarcating the Lebanese-Syrian border based on the historical French maps still considered authoritative.
- Issuing a carefully considered and equitable general amnesty.
- Establishing a dedicated development and reconstruction council for the region.
- Creating a chamber of commerce, industry, and agriculture.
- Developing a public transportation network.
- Establishing universities and cultural institutions.
- Finding a comprehensive solution to the Orontes River dam to prevent future disputes and address water-related challenges involving irrigation, agriculture, and the regional economy.
The participants stressed that these priorities are essential for strengthening state institutions, supporting residents, improving public services, and creating sustainable development opportunities in the Northern Bekaa.