Lebanon Begins Negotiations with IMF to Find Solutions to Economic Crisis

Lebanese Prime Minister Naguib Mikati announced that his government has actually started talks with the International Monetary Fund  (IMF) to find solutions to the Lebanese economic crisis.

He considered that cooperation with the Fund is not an option, but rather an obligatory path that must be successful, to be the first path towards rescue, and the right way to restore the country to the right path among the other countries in the world.

In his response to the comments of representatives of the various parliamentary blocs and independents on the government's statement, Mikati added that neither he nor his government will be able to reform everything that has been corrupted by time.

He stressed that the ministerial statement included self-evident matters for the government's work despite its short life.

The Lebanese Premier said that the government's slogan is "Together to Save", which necessitates that it does not engage in any controversy that might hinder the rescue process that it needs in the country at the present time.

He listened to constructive remarks from the deputies and the government took them into consideration.

He indicated that the first and most important of the government's files is the health sector, which affects all Lebanese, considering that the country is in a delicate health situation.

He explained that the second file is a very difficult living and social file due to the high prices.

Mikati affirmed that he continued during the past week the great work that the Minister of Social Affairs is doing to help any needy without any discrimination on all Lebanese lands.

He revealed that the Minister of Education will make every possible effort to open schools on time and start the school year according to the accepted pattern.

Mikati pointed out that addressing the electricity crisis needs solutions in the short and medium terms, by reconsidering the electric tariff and increasing the feeding hours.

As for the medium term, it is necessary to work on increasing the production of electricity to 24 hours a day.