Lebanese Prime Minister Concludes Visit to Washington, Affirms Government's Commitment to Continue Reform Path

Beirut, September 30 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed his government’s commitment to continuing the reform process and completing the necessary legislation and measures to address fiscal and banking imbalances. The Prime Minister’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that Salam stressed, during his meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the IMF headquarters in Washington, the government’s readiness to cooperate with the Parliament to finalize the passage of the fiscal gap law following the approval of the banking sector restructuring law.

The statement noted that the meeting discussed the negotiation track between Lebanon and the IMF, the progress achieved in implementing fiscal and banking reforms, and the steps required to reach an agreement with the Fund. Salam reaffirmed his government’s determination to continue working on stabilizing public finances, enhancing governance and transparency, and completing essential reforms to rebuild a sound banking sector and restore confidence in the Lebanese economy.

Georgieva congratulated the Lebanese government on “the progress achieved in the reform process,” commending its performance in managing public finances, preparing the budget, and the steps taken regarding banking sector restructuring and strengthening fiscal discipline. She affirmed the IMF’s readiness to continue working closely with the Lebanese government and building on what has been achieved to advance negotiations.

The statement said it was agreed that an IMF delegation would visit Lebanon after the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank to resume negotiations with the aim of making progress toward reaching an agreement. Both sides emphasized the importance of accelerating efforts in the coming period to reach “an agreement that lays sound foundations for financial and economic recovery and contributes to restoring confidence in the Lebanese economy.”

Also present at the meeting, alongside Salam, were Finance Minister Yassin Jaber and Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh.

The statement added that Salam also met in Washington with U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, the committee’s highest-ranking Democratic member, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and committee members Senators Chris Coons and Tim Kaine, in the presence of Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Youssef Raji and Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States. The meeting discussed Lebanese-American relations, developments in Lebanon and the region, and the government’s efforts to restore Lebanon’s full sovereignty and extend state authority over its entire territory, as well as the reform and economic recovery track. (End) A.Y.B./T.A.B.