Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that his government was prioritizing stopping the collapse in the country, ending electricity problems and resolving the medicine and fuel crisis, while also moving to address other issues in cooperation with the relevant international bodies.
Mikati met on Monday with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Najat Rochdi, who emphasized that the government’s success will be measured by the way reforms are approached.
She said talks focused on the UN assistance to Lebanon in addressing the priorities and helping the Lebanese overcome the current crises, pointing to the need to focus on the social safety net strategy, “because we want to make sure that basic services reach all citizens.”
“We are counting on Mikati and the ministers to initiate clear reforms needed by the country to get out of its crisis,” Rochdi stated.
She added: “The government’s success criterion is the way to approach reforms. It is not only enough to work on urgent matters in the short term, but also to come up with a medium and long-term vision.”
Mikati also received on Monday a delegation of economic bodies headed by former Minister Mohamed Choucair. The latter announced that the economic authorities have developed a short paper of nine points to deal with the basic requirements for reviving the economy, stimulating the private sector, securing social protection and improving services and infrastructure.
Mikati chaired a meeting to complete discussions over the financing card, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al-Shami and other ministers.
The participants reviewed the details of the implementation mechanism and “resolved some obstacles,” Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar said.
