NNA - Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, considered that "Lebanon can be a strong global partner in terms of apple production, because Lebanon's weather is favorable for apple cultivation."

Hajj Hassan's words came during his visit to the town of Ainata as part of a tour marking the "International Apple Day", whereby he hoped that "all friendly countries will cooperate in the issue of exporting Lebanese apples abroad, and that the political tensions between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia will be put aside to allow for Lebanese apple exportation to the Kingdom."

The Minister also called for eliminating transit and customs obstacles with Syria, Jordan and Iraq to facilitate the process of exporting apples to these countries.

"Mid-October will be the start of operations that will open more markets between Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan," he said.

"We must work in cooperation with all political forces to secure apple refrigerators that operate on solar energy," he added, noting that the state and the Ministry of Agriculture stand by the Lebanese farmers in securing such a prideful production in Lebanon.

========R.Sh.