Nawaf Salam affirms government's determination to implement reform plan

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Monday, during the visit of a delegation from the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) to the Grand Serail, that his government is committed to implementing its reform plan and to continuing its efforts to “concentrate arms in the hands of the state,” while “extending” its authority throughout the country.

The head of the Lebanese government reaffirmed his cabinet's commitment to “limiting arms to the hands of the State,” in line with the ministerial declaration, and stressed the need to “strengthen national sovereignty,” in line with the Taif Agreement and the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701, reports the Grand Serail in a publication on X. The remarks were made in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson and ATFL President Edward Gabriel.

As for financial reforms, Salam indicated that these had “begun with the introduction of bills on lifting banking secrecy and reforming the banking sector,” as well as “the adoption of a mechanism for administrative appointments, already implemented with the opening of candidacies for the position of Chairman of the Council for Development and Reconstruction.”

The Prime Minister also stressed the need for Parliament to “continue to approve reform laws submitted to it by the government” and revealed that his cabinet is currently working on “a bill to guarantee the independence of the judiciary.”

The Lebanese authorities must also carry out the reforms demanded by international donors in order to release funds after five years of crisis linked to mismanagement and corruption. The country is also facing the high cost of reconstruction following the war between Israel and Hezbollah. A meeting between Lebanese representatives and those of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled during the spring meetings organized by the institution with the World Bank in Washington, from April 21 to 26. Lebanon has been in crisis since late 2019 but has still not launched the reforms needed to clean up its financial sector and revive its economy, despite pressing appeals from its foreign partners.

For his part, Gabriel expressed the hope that “Parliament will act swiftly to send a strong message to the world that Lebanon is taking a big step forward in the economic field,” and pointed out that the discussions also focused on “the importance of linking the economic process to the implementation of the cease-fire agreement” which came into force on Nov. 27, 2024, to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Earlier in the day, the ATFL delegation was received by President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace. Against this backdrop, Gabriel said that the Head of State and the Prime Minister were “aware” that it was essential “to take concrete steps to stabilize the cease-fire and for the Lebanese Army, with the help of the United States, to continue its work.”

The cease-fire agreement stipulated a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied villages in southern Lebanon so that the Lebanese Army could deploy in areas formerly under Hezbollah's influence. However, even after the end of the transitional period on Feb. 18, the Israeli army maintained its presence in five points it deemed “strategic” in southern Lebanon and continued its almost daily operations against suspected Hezbollah members or sites. Resolution 1701, adopted by the Security Council to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, formed the basis of the cease-fire agreement between the two parties in 2024. It stipulates, among other things, the disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah. During his visit to Lebanon last weekend, U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus reiterated Washington's position that the disarmament of the pro-Iranian group should take place “as soon as possible,” without, however, imposing a timetable.