A handover ceremony took place on Friday at the Ministry of Agriculture in Bir Hassan between caretaker Minister Ghazi Zeaiter and the newly appointed Minister Hassan Lakkis.

After a brief on the achievements made and the work done during Zeaiter's term, the later expressed his regret over "the negative media approach towards him", praising the role of media in general and assuring that he will stand by the new minister "who comes from the same school of thought, that of Imam Musa al-Sadr, and the school of Speaker Nabih Berri."

Zeaiter called for "a new strategy for the Ministry of Agriculture after the 2015-2019 strategy," stressing that there said plan "ought to be implemented and must not remain ink on paper."

The new minister, in turn, asserted that the government "is here to work and not just make pledges."

"We will start working together in total transparency, love and dedication as a team so that we can secure services to the Lebanese people," he said.