Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said that “Lebanon achieved a lot in the CEDRE conference” that was held in the French capital last week.
“CEDRE is part of a path that started in Rome and will be completed in Brussels in two weeks,” Hariri told a press conference at the Grand Serail.
“CEDRE is a partnership between Lebanon and the international community; a partnership for Lebanon’s stability, for achieving sustainable development, for finding work opportunities for the youth, and a partnership to protect the Lebanese model of civil peace and coexistence,” he said.
“Lebanon achieved a lot in the CEDRE conference,” Hariri stated.
“We received around $11.5 billion in grants and soft loans,” he said, adding that as expected, one third of funds came from Arab countries.
“Reforms are a duty, not only for the international community but we as Lebanese should implement such reforms.”
He expressed confidence that no matter the results of next month’s parliamentary elections, the reforms will take place.
“Concerning transparency, we were very keen on a follow-up committee formed of countries and organizations that prepared for the CEDRE conference,” said Hariri.
Asked about a debate in the country about Article 50 in the budget law on the law of foreign ownership, Hariri said that remarks about naturalization are part of the incitement policy adopted by some people.
“Our constitution is very clear especially in terms of naturalization,” he stressed.
On a possible strike on Syria over the regime’s alleged used of chemical weapons in Douma, Hariri reiterated that Lebanon holds onto its dissociation policy.
