The Lebanese Minister of Economy, Amin Salam, said that work is underway to return to cabinet meetings, to improve the political situation, to return to work in the government, and to strengthen and restore confidence in it.
He pointed out that without the return of cabinet meetings, many decisions will remain suspended, and they cannot be taken without the return of government meetings.
He stressed that the meetings with the World Bank in Washington were excellent, and that there are many international bodies that give the government great hope to move forward in work to implement the plan it promised, which he saw during his meetings with the World Bank.
He stressed that the government is keen to carry out the necessary reforms, and "we will begin to see the signs of the reforms required of us."
Guterres calls for unity
On the other hand, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on political officials in Lebanon to unite before he pays an official visit to Beirut at the end of the week to express his "solidarity" with the Lebanese people who are facing a suffocating economic and financial crisis.
"There is no possibility for Lebanon to return to the right path unless the Lebanese political leaders realize that this is the right time, and perhaps the last possible time, to unite their ranks," Guterres said during a video interview.
He stressed that "the first thing that is necessary is for the political leaders in Lebanon to unite their ranks."
He said, "The divisions between the political leaders in Lebanon paralyzed the institutions, and this made it impossible to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, launch effective economic programs and create the appropriate conditions for the country to begin its recovery."
Guterres stressed that "Lebanese leaders do not have the right to be divided in light of such a serious crisis," adding that "only the Lebanese can, of course, lead this process."
Since the summer of 2019, Lebanon has witnessed an accelerating economic collapse, exacerbated by the horrific explosion of the Port of Beirut on August 4, and the measures to confront the Corona virus.
In March 2020, the state defaulted on paying its foreign debts, and then began negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on a recovery plan that was later suspended due to differences between the Lebanese negotiators.
The exchange rate of the Lebanese pound against the dollar gradually declined until it lost more than 85% of its value, and about 80% of the population now lives below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate has risen, while the international community requires the authorities to implement urgent reforms so that the country can obtain the necessary financial support to get it out of the country. whirlpool collapse.