[ad_1]
According to “Al-Akhbar”, the International Monetary Fund is studying a Lebanese request to borrow the value of Lebanon’s contribution to the IMF, which amounts to about $ 860 million. The loan is separate from the financial and economic plan negotiations in terms of regulation, but is almost subject to the same conditions: procedures and liberalization of the exchange rate.
Negotiations begin next week.
So, with the start of the first talks between the government and the International Monetary Fund, Lebanon’s problem of obtaining an urgent loan arose from its contributions to the IMF, which amounted to 862 million and 500 thousand dollars. However, this loan, “under study”, has nothing to do with the financial and economic plan that the government established and on which it requested IMF assistance. Rather, it falls under the category of “urgent aid” provided by the Fund to several countries in the face of the Corona pandemic, such as Egypt, from one of its departments, known as the “RFI Rapid Financing Instrument”, which is dedicated to urgent help.
Government sources claim that the IMF has already accepted the Lebanese request, but other follow-up sources confirm to Al-Akhbar that the matter is still under study, awaiting various things, including, of course, what Lebanon will do in terms of procedures and ensure its ability to pay, especially from the bottom Lebanon is not considered an “impoverished” country to help at all costs.
This “assistance”, if approved, is not a gift, but a loan for a specified period in accordance with the provisions of this fund’s system (RFI), provided it is used in the “reforms” that the government of President Hassan Diab intends to undertake, especially since the initial official reaction The fund, according to Lebanese officials, is a “positive pillar to start negotiations with him on the floating of the Lebanese economy.”
Cross-border smuggling
And the cross-border smuggling file into Syria was one of the files that incurred state losses of hundreds of millions of dollars, first highlighting the danger of exposing the continuation of these borders subject to smuggling in what is supposed to be closed like all land borders and air for the decision to impose measures related to the mobilization state, since it was strongly illuminated on the one hand The main problem that the government can no longer ignore is prioritizing smuggling and controlling border crossings with Syria firmly and facing the fact consummate that plunged Lebanon into its most dangerous external confrontation with donor and non-donor countries because of this dilemma. Sources following this file reported, “An-Nahar,” that disclosing reports and complaints about chapters smuggling quantities of flour and diesel into Syria will lead to further follow-up by unions, economic and financial organizations that coordinate with the blocs. and the deputies who previously raised the file several times, the last of which was in the last two sessions of the Finance and Budget Committee The two, who are dedicated to discussing the government’s plan and, consequently, the expected substantial modifications to This plan will also affect the issue of cross-border smuggling as a priority. Yesterday, the leader of the “Lebanese Forces” party, Samir Geagea, called the television news report documenting the flour smuggling operations as news of judicial references. The smuggling of diesel fuel into Syria was raised through what was announced by a member of the Union of Gasoline Owners George Braks, who spoke about “smuggling millions of liters of diesel daily into Syria, while we no longer found quantities to buy in the local market “and said that the value of the contraband exceeds 400 million dollars. Annually, this figure may constitute half the truth.
Cabinet and amendments
These addresses will be present at the cabinet meeting scheduled for next Tuesday at the Republican Palace to discuss a regular agenda that will be distributed to ministers today, most likely, and will continue to discuss developments related to the Corona virus, in addition to completing the investigation of financial and economic affairs after government approval of the “recovery plan”. Financial and economic “and the comments made by the parliamentary and political blocs at the Baabda Al-Hawari meeting on the plan.
Informed official sources told “the brigade”: The plan will undoubtedly see amendments in light of the comments of the heads of the blocs and the cabinet will study them, in addition to the amendments and observations that are discussed by the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Budget and it will prepare them in a report presented to the cabinet for its consideration and adoption. Including those related to the issue of banks, the bill and other proposals contained in the plan.
Appointments are in consultation.
The cabinet will return next Tuesday to complete the discussion of some pending or postponed issues, including the focus of appointments after the storm that arose, especially on the participation of the Orthodox, in particular the position of the governor of Beirut, in addition to the appointments of the deputies of the governor of the Bank of Lebanon and the government commissioner for the bank and the head and members of the Financial Markets Authority and supervisory committees Banks and the head of the Civil Service Council, which are appointments that They do not need a mechanism to appoint first class employees in the country, but they need a political agreement.
Official sources very familiar with the matter told Al-Liwaa: The session will discuss the focus of these appointments, but does not necessarily take place in Tuesday’s session unless there is prior political consensus on the issue, especially on the governor of Beirut because the current Governor Ziad Shabib will return to his workplace. The first as a judge on the Shura State Council after the end of his term on 19 this month.
