Bassil Launches Official Biometric And Diplomatic

21 Aug 2017

Lebanon- Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Gebran Bassil, on Monday launched the official biometric and diplomatic passports and service, during a ceremony attended by the General Security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, at the Ministry's new Foreigners Department office.

In his delivered word, Major General Ibrahim said that the biometric passports' project was carried out jointly by the Foreign Ministry and the General Security Directorate General.

"This passport effectively shifted Lebanon to the ranks of developed countries," Ibrahim said, noting that some countries have already started to prevent the entry of non-biometric passport holders into their territories.

Ibrahim said that the biometric passport gives the holder access to all countries of the world, and includes security standards considered the most accurate in the world, and contains international specifications in terms of quality and security standards.

Minister Bassil, for his part, hailed the cooperation between the Ministry and The Directorate General in crystallizing such an achievement, which puts the country in an advanced stage in meeting the international standards in this regard.

Bassil also noted the presence of further electronic work to be undertaken, to enable all the Lebanese across the world to benefit from the Ministry's services in an uncomplicated manner.

On the other hand, Bassil met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hussein Jaber Ansari, accompanied by Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Fathali.

On emerging, Ansari said that he shall be meeting during his visit to Lebanon with a number of political, spiritual and social dignitaries, deeming Lebanon as a great symbol of confronting terrorism, whether the state terrorism represented by the Zionist entity or the Takfiri terrorism represented by the extremist spiteful groups.

The Iranian official also voiced Iran's determination to consecrate and reinforce bilateral relations and cooperation with Lebanon at the various levels.

Later, Bassil received a delegation from the Maronite League, led by lawyer Antoine Qlimous, who saluted the Lebanese army and its sacrifices for the sake of the country.