Libyan Minister of Justice in Lebanon

The Libyan Minister of Justice, Ali Hemida Ashour Shaaban, arrived at Rafiq Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Thursday evening from Istanbul, to head a delegation from the ministry in an official three-day visit to Lebanon during which he will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Adnan Mansour and Minister of Justice Chakib Qartabawy, and hold political consultations with a number of Lebanese officials. Minister Shaaban was received at the airport by the representative of the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hassan Abbas, and head of the Libyan community in Lebanon, Radwan Fitouri. Upon his arrival at the aiport's VIP lounge, the Libyan minister thanked the people of Lebanon and the Lebanese government for supporting Libya during the events of February 17, noting that the purpose of his visit to Lebanon is to open a new stage of relations between Lebanon and Libya, especially with regard to judicial cooperation between the two countries, as well as to discuss and promote bilateral relations between the two countries. Concerning the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr and his two companions, Shaaban said:  "The case is still under investigation and judicial proceedings in this case are still ongoing, the results will appear immediately after them." He added: "the Lebanese delegation, who visited Libya, recently, has received every cooperation and effort by the Libyan authorities on this matter," explaining: "the investigation is being carried out transparently, and there are no further developments in this case." Shaaban pointed out the need to strengthen communications and relations between the two countries adding: "Libya opens its doors for investment and trade to all countries, particularly countries that have cooperated with Libya to get rid of the tyrant (Muammar Gaddafi) such as Lebanon." The fate of the Shiite cleric and his two companions – Sheikh Mohammad Yacoub and journalist Abbas Badreddine – has been unknown since they vanished during a trip to Libya aimed at negotiating an end to Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. Libya, then under the rule of the late Muammar Gaddaffi denied involvement in Sadr’s disappearance, saying he left the country for Italy.