Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit reiterated on Tuesday the league’s support to and solidarity with Lebanon during its current crisis.
During a meeting in Cairo with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis, Aboul Gheit said it is important for the new Lebanese government to meet the demands of the people and to fullfil its promises, especially by introducing necessary economic reforms to regain the world’s trust and attract investments.
A statement by the league said Aboul Gheit and Kubis discussed the latest developments in Lebanon following the formation of the new government and the challenges that lay ahead.
For his part, Kubis briefed Aboul Gheit about the financial and economic situation in Lebanon and required measures to overcome the crisis.
In Cairo, the UN official also held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
“Shoukry stressed Egypt’s keenness to protect the stability and safety of Lebanon, by working on the achievement of national interests and on meeting the demands of the Lebanese people,” the ministry’s spokesperson Ahmed Hafez said.
The foreign minister said Lebanon should be spared from being involved in regional conflicts and escalations.
Kubis praised Egyptian efforts to help preserve stability in Lebanon and the region, expressing his keenness on continuing cooperation and consultation with Cairo in this regard.
Diab's government won parliament's confidence last week and it quickly requested the International Monetary Fund's advice on tackling its economic crisis.
Lebanon has the world's third-highest debt-to-GDP ratio and has been sliding towards default in recent months, with tight capital controls and a currency devaluation already hitting purchasing power.
Last week, Kubis said that any solution to the economic, financial and banking sector crisis must start with complete transparency of what is the solvency of Lebanon and its Central bank, communicated with the full clarity, honesty and accountability to the public.
