Prime Minister Hassan Diab reiterated his government’s commitment to implement necessary reforms to unlock international aid during a coordination meeting for CEDRE Monday at the Grand Serail.
“So far we have discussed together with the government’s reform plan, International Monetary Fund aid and the government’s developmental priorities over the next three years,” said Diab, who was chairing the first coordination meeting for CEDRE.
A number of ministers, ambassadors, and public sector officials were present at the meeting in addition to diplomat Pierre Dukan, the French envoy assigned to follow up on CEDRE decisions, via video call.
“Today, we meet again after putting a follow-up mechanism to reach an agreement between our government and the donor [countries] which reflects the Cabinet’s commitment toward CEDRE,” Diab said.
The prime minister added that the government’s ministerial statement stresses on the importance of fighting corruption and implementing necessary reforms to restore local and international confidence in Lebanon.
Diab said that the government’s financial rescue plan is in accordance with the expectations of CEDRE, on which it has based its economic vision and strategy for sustainable development.
“After more than two years [of the CEDRE conference] Lebanon is keener than ever to redefine its economy and strengthen its commitment to the international community,” Diab said.
The CEDRE conference was held in Paris in 2018, where $11 billion in grants and soft loans were pledged to Lebanon by international donors. To unlock the aid, Lebanon was required to enact key economic and financial reforms to stimulate its weak economy. Said reforms have not been enacted till today, however Diab’s government has rekindled conversation on this, as the CEDRE aid is key for its economic rescue plan’s achievement, amid Lebanon’s worst economic crisis in decades.
The Daily Star
19/05/2020
