NNA - Caretaker Minister of Justice Henri Khoury concluded his visit to the United Nations headquarters in Vienna, on top of  a delegation, that included Lebanon's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Ibrahim Assaf.

The visit aimed to hold a number of meetings, the most prominent of which was a meeting with Austrian Minister of Justice Alma Zadić; where the Minister of Justice briefed his Austrian counterpart on some of the challenges facing law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, such as the phenomenon of prison overcrowding in light of the worsening Syrian displacement crisis.

It was agreed to work together to prepare for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on issues of common interest, including mutual training programmes for judges, and cooperation in the field of mechanising judicial work in Lebanon.

Minister Khoury and the accompanying delegation also held a series of meetings with UN officials, most notably with the Executive Director of UNODC, Ghada Wali.

Talks reportedly featured high on a number of projects of common interest.

Minister Khoury and the accompanying delegation also met with the Acting Directors of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, Jaroslaw Pietrusiewicz and Petra Susac, where they listened to a presentation from the Academy team on the educational and training programs it runs, and ways for Lebanon and the judiciary to benefit from those programs, especially the Master’s programs in combating corruption, and distance learning courses, including self-monitoring programs.

The delegation also met with the Director General of the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and former Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger, The delegation also met with the Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and former Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger, where the Minister explained the challenges facing Lebanon under the impact of the Syrian displacement crisis and border control issues, and possible ways for cooperation between the two parties.

The delegation also held important meetings with a delegation from Algeria, within the framework of the STAR Initiative.

============== R.K.