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Officially, negotiations began yesterday between the government and the International Monetary Fund. The “Al-Akhbar” newspaper reported that the first negotiation sessions to discuss the government’s financial plan were held through the video service.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the Lebanese delegation was made up of my weight, the director general of the ministry, Alain Bivani, and the minister’s advisor, Talal Salman and Henry Shaul. The Presidency of the Republic was represented by the economist Charbel Kordahi. The Prime Minister was represented by his advisers, George Chalhoub and Leila Dagher. In addition to Riad Salama, the Banque du Liban was represented by six employees: Youssef El-Khalil, Shoukry Mones, Rudolph Moussa, Raja Abu Asali, Muhammad Ali Hassan and Karen Shartouni.
While the current negotiations may be the most dangerous negotiations in the history of Lebanon, Al-Akhbar’s information indicated that the Governor of the Banque du Liban was unable to participate in the first session. If Salameh is known to oppose the plan, the absence of the monetary policy official 27 years ago would show that the state is not homogeneous in the situation.
This reality, at a very sensitive and dangerous stage, like the one that Lebanon is experiencing, can lead to the failure of the negotiations, with serious consequences. Here it should be noted that the failure of the negotiations is no less dangerous than their success. The end of negotiations with a deal almost inevitably means that Lebanon will be subject to a tough IMF program that will hit the public sector, raise taxes and exaggerate public property. As for the failure of the negotiations, it also means that the “image of Lebanon” between creditors and international financial institutions is at the bottom line, because it has been tested to obtain the satisfaction of the Fund, and it did not succeed. The failure of the negotiations will mean that the government’s plan is unacceptable, that Lebanon’s ability to negotiate with its creditors who have stopped paying its debts is almost non-existent, and that they will inevitably turn to the judiciary.
Although the government plan affects its employees, workers and retirees, the delegation, which consists of 14 people, represents two sides, the political forces and capital, but did not include any representative of the working class (including as an observer).
Source:
News
