BEIRUT — President Michel Aoun received on Wednesday a delegation from the International Monetary Fund at Baabda Palace headed by IMF's head of mission for Pakistan, Middle East and Central Asia Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, the state-run National News Agency reported. Ramirez Rigo briefed Aoun on the negotiations’ process and the vision the IMF has for Lebanon to overcome its more than two-year-old socio-economic crisis, the NNA reported.
Here’s what we know:
• President Aoun was briefed by Ramirez Rigo on the results of his contacts with the Lebanese government on a financial and economic recovery plan aimed at charting a course out of the country’s present economic crisis. The delegation noted progress in the negotiations process that would lead to the initial signing of a memorandum of understanding before signing the final contract.
• The delegation requested a commitment from the president, Parliament and the prime minister to complete the required reforms, especially the adoption of the capital control law and the introduction of amendments to the banking secrecy law, besides restructuring the financial and banking sector, including the central bank.
• During a speech at the Doha Forum on Saturday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he expects a preliminary agreement with the IMF to be signed in the next two weeks.