Lebanon: Jumblatt, Nasrallah’s Aide Stress Need to Put Aside Differences

A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)
A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)
TT
20

Lebanon: Jumblatt, Nasrallah’s Aide Stress Need to Put Aside Differences

A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)
A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)

Following a long period of political rift between the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and Hezbollah, a meeting on Thursday brought together the PSP head, Walid Jumblatt, and the political assistant to Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hajj Hussein Al-Khalil.

The two sides emphasized the need to put aside differences and to maintain dialogue in the next stage.

In comments following the meeting, which was held at Jumblatt’s residence in Beirut, the head of the PSP underlined the need for dialogue “to reach the minimum level of consensus on matters that serve the interests of the Lebanese people.

“There are points of contention between us that we have put aside,” he said.

For his part, Khalil described the meeting as “friendly and frank,” saying: “There was a common will to meet, based on the financial, economic and living conditions. We reviewed many internal matters of political, financial and social benefits.”

He added: “Perhaps there are major political headlines that we disagree about, but this does not mean that the Lebanese do not discuss major strategic points...”

The meeting, which brought together two archenemies in politics, comes a few weeks before the presidential elections and follows striking positions expressed by Jumblatt, who stated that a dialogue with Hezbollah and other components was necessary to build a strong state.

“I asked to meet with representatives of Hezbollah, in order to discuss some issues that have nothing to do with the presidency, for the sake of electricity, and for the establishment of a sovereign oil company…” he had said in earlier remarks.



Lebanese Govt. to Seek New IMF Program, Policy Statement Says

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
TT
20

Lebanese Govt. to Seek New IMF Program, Policy Statement Says

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo

Lebanon's new government will negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for a new program and will work to deal with the country's financial default and public debt, according to a policy statement approved by the cabinet late on Monday.

The statement, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, said the government would work for an economical revival that could only be achieved through restructuring the banking sector.

Lebanon has been in deep economic crisis since 2019, when its financial system collapsed under the weight of massive state debts, prompting a sovereign default in 2020 and freezing ordinary depositors out of their savings in the banking system.

Beirut reached a draft funding deal with IMF in 2022 - contingent on reforms that authorities failed to deliver.

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, who took office as part of a new government agreed earlier this month, told Reuters an IMF mission is expected to visit Lebanon in March.

Jaber said he had met the IMF's resident representative in Lebanon, Frederico Lima, and confirmed that the government plans to move ahead with reforms.

Lebanon's political landscape has been turned on its head since the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, long a dominant player in Lebanese politics, was badly pummelled in last year's war with Israel.

Reflecting the shift in the power balance, the government policy statement did not include language used in previous years that was seen to legitimize a role for Hezbollah in defending Lebanon, saying instead "we want a state that has the decision of war and peace".

The statement said it was required to adopt a national security strategy and a foreign policy that works to 'neutralize' Lebanon from conflicts.

In the field of energy, the Lebanese government will seek to resume work in oil and gas exploration, according to the cabinet statement. It said the government planned to establish a Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.

With a new administration in neighboring Syria, the statement said the Lebanese government believed it has an opportunity to start a serious dialogue aimed at controlling and demarcating the borders and working to resolve the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanon.