House Speaker Nabih Berri met on Thursday afternoon at Ain el-Tineh residence with visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon, whereby the pair discussed most recent developments on the local and regional arena.

House Speaker Nabih Berri met on Thursday afternoon at Ain el-Tineh residence with visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon, whereby the pair discussed most recent developments on the local and regional arena.

Talks also reportedly dwelt on an array of currently proposed issues, notably the demarcation of maritime borders, UNIFIL's role in the south and the repercussions of the Syrian refugees on Lebanon.

Attending the meeting in addition to Ki-moon's accompanying delegation have been World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, Islamic Development Bank chairman Ahmad Mohamed Ali, the Special Coordinator of the UN in Lebanon Sigrid Kaag, Lebanon's Ambassador to the UN Nawaf Salam and Speaker Berri's Media Adviser Ali Hamdan.

Following the meeting, Speaker Berri told media representatives that he discussed with Ki-moon the issue of Syrian refugees and the need for the government and parliament to endorse the needed legislations to receive what he termed as "huge and promising aids for Lebanon and the displaced people in Lebanon."

Berri also said that talks majorly touched on the presidential election's issue and means to extricate out of the longstanding vacuum and deadlock.

UN Secretary General also visited the Grand Serail where he met with PM Tammam Salam, announcing that the International community is ready to help Lebanon in face of the crisis of the Syrian refugees.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim who accompanied Ban said that a financial aid that numbers around $900 million is ready to be granted to Lebanon after taking certain measures.

Islamic Development Bank chairman Ahmad Mohamed Ali further announced a financial bounty that is scheduled to help the Lebanese government cope with the current challenges.

Ban then visited the Defense Ministry in Yarze and met with Minister Samir Moqbel and the Army Commander-in-Chief, confirming support to the  Lebanese military.

United Nations Secretary-General today had visited the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) where he was received by UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano.

Speaking during his visit to the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on the first day of his two-day tour of the country, the Secretary-General noted that south Lebanon has seen one of the quietest periods in nearly four decades since 2006.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for making an effective and meaningful use of the world body's peacekeeping mission in Lebanon in preventing hostilities and de-escalate tension in the southern part of the country.