Bekaa Governor Receives German Embassy Charge d'Affaires

Bekaa al-Hermel Governor Bashir Khadr received the German Embassy Charge d’Affaires in Lebanon, Yasmine Ria, at the governorate center in the city of Bekaa, with discussions focusing on the general situation in the region.

Ria

Following the meeting, Ria stated in an interview: "The primary goal of this visit is to gain a better understanding of the region, particularly Bekaa. This morning, we visited the archaeological site in Bekaa, in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, especially the General Directorate of Antiquities, to better assess the work accomplished with German support: such as educational workshops for children, and restoration efforts at the archaeological site. The impression was truly inspiring."

She added: "We now have a clearer understanding of the scale of the archaeological site in Bekaa and the significance of the efforts made over the past 100 years, in partnership with Germany. Thus, the importance of this site also reflects our bilateral Lebanese-German cooperation."

Ria continued: "We greatly appreciated the open and frank exchange with the governor, and I sincerely thank him for hosting us in his city and region. This is my first visit here, and I especially hope it won’t be my last. So I say, until next time, and thank you."

When asked about the possibility of Germany continuing to fund additional development projects and programs in Bekaa and the region, she replied: "I can’t detail every project or how they will be implemented right now, but you are correct: we have a wide range of projects across the region covering development from water to education and vocational training. We also have humanitarian projects related to hosting refugees and displaced persons, and, of course, support provided to local communities. I am certain that needs exist, and we will see what is possible for us step by step."

Khadr

In turn, Governor Khadr said: "I was honored today to receive the German Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Ms. Yasmine Ria; this visit has been an important opportunity to present and explain all the challenges facing Bekaa al-Hermel Governorate, especially since Germany is one of the key supporters of several development projects in the governorate."

He noted that they "discussed possibilities and pathways for future cooperation and working together to support new projects for Bekaa al-Hermel, and we sensed strong responsiveness, good intentions, and genuine willingness to continue this support."

Khadr clarified that they "also addressed Germany’s ongoing interest in archaeological sites, which extends a long history of partnership in archaeological excavations at the Bekaa Castle and other heritage sites, and assistance to Lebanon in preserving them since the Ottoman era, during the time of German Emperor Wilhelm II, and this support for archaeological work continues to this day. Today, Ms. Ria took a tour within this framework."

Khadr expressed "great satisfaction with this productive visit, which provided us with an opportunity to highlight the region’s needs and reaffirm the importance of continuing support and implementing German-funded development projects to enable Bekaa al-Hermel Governorate to overcome the various difficulties and challenges we face."