Beirut: The Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari and Abdul-Sulaiman al-Kanei, have returned to Beirut, arriving on Friday afternoon amid a resurgence of hopes of a reset in diplomatic ties for the beleaguered country.
They landed at Beirut airport less than 24 hours after the Kingdom and Kuwait announced that their envoys would return to Lebanon, sparking optimism about a fresh start with Arab Gulf states after a five-month diplomatic boycott.
Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, Grand Mufti of Lebanon, said: “This decision sets a new stage of hope and confidence in Lebanon’s Arab future, identity, relations and cooperation with the Gulf countries and the rest of the brotherly Arab states.”
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf countries withdrew their ambassadors from Lebanon in October 2021 in protest of derogatory statements made by former Information Minister George Kurdahi regarding the war in Yemen.
On Thursday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced Bukhari’s return to Beirut. The ministry said the move was “in response to the calls and appeals of liberal national political forces in Lebanon and in reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to take necessary and necessary measures to enhance cooperation in line with the statement of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati”. . To stop all political, military and security activities affecting the Kingdom and GCC countries and the Kingdom and GCC countries.
The ministry stressed the importance of the return of Lebanon to Arab origins, represented by its national institutions and agencies, for its people to enjoy peace and security and stability.
On Friday, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry announced the return of its ambassador to Beirut in response to “the commitment of the Lebanese government to stop all aggressive activities and interventions offensive to Arab countries”.
Mikati stressed in a tweet that Lebanon is proud of its Arab affiliation. “Lebanon remains committed to the best possible relations with the Gulf countries, who were and will remain a support for us,” he said.
Former Lebanese prime minister Tammam Salaam called on Bukhari, “praising the role of the distinguished brother that the kingdom continues to play towards Lebanon and Lebanon.”
Interior Minister Bassem Mawlawi said: “Saudi Arabia has proved that Lebanon is in its heart and conscience, and it will never leave it.”
The Future Movement said it hoped the decision would constitute a step on the way to open a new page in Lebanon-Gulf relations, in a bid to denigrate Lebanon as a political, security and media platform from Gulf states and leaders. sight will be seen. The need will be emphasized. ,
The return to diplomatic relations in the Gulf coincided with the announcement of a staff-level agreement between Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund, which has also contributed to the sudden wave of positivity.
On Friday, the IMF published the full text of the draft agreement with the Lebanese government.
Deputy Prime Minister Sadeh al-Shami said: “A preliminary agreement has been reached for a four-year extended fund facility. This economic and financial reform program aims to stimulate growth and provide employment opportunities over the past two years and in Lebanon. While the economy is on track to recover after shrinking by more than 60 percent, the local currency collapsed, inflation reached very high levels, and poverty hit unprecedented rates.
The agreement requires the approval of the IMF, the Lebanese government and parliament, especially with regard to urgent laws that must be ratified before the program can receive the final approval of the IMF’s board of directors.
Al-Shami said: “The program is based on providing a conducive environment for economic activity by implementing the necessary structural reforms to restore growth and secure job opportunities, giving the banking sector its role in financing the economy.” Is.” To be able to restore and improve public finances to secure debt stability while increasing expenditure on social sectors and infrastructure.
He said: “It revolves around reforming the public sector and its institutions, especially the power sector, to secure better power supply, which helps reduce the burden on citizens and revive economic movement.” ” , in addition to integrating the exchange rate, improving governance and fighting corruption with technical assistance from the IMF.
“The longer we delay implementing the necessary reforms, the more it costs the national economy and, consequently, citizens,” Al-Shami warned.
“We expect the pre-conditions set by the IMF for the approval of the program to be met,” Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh told Reuters. The agreement is described as “a positive event for Lebanon that will contribute to the consolidation of the exchange at the rate,” noting that the central bank supported and facilitated the mission.
Speaking to the Middle East News Agency, Salameh said: “As of February gold reserves in the Central Bank stood at $17.547 billion, so Lebanon maintains its position with the second largest gold reserves in the Arab region, with an estimated net worth of There is about 286. Tons of gold.
He added: “As of February, the total cash reserves of foreign currencies stood at $12.748 billion and the stock portfolio was $4.197 billion and included euro bonds, a slight increase from January.”
Salameh said: “Remittances from Lebanese people working abroad amounted to about $6.4 billion in 2021.”
He added: “The crisis affecting the financial sector in Lebanon is being addressed in the recovery plan being prepared by the Lebanese government in cooperation with the IMF.”
Salameh said: “The rumors of the Central Bank going bankrupt are false; the bank is exercising its role assigned to it under Article 70 of the Money and Credit Code and will continue to do so despite the damage caused to the financial sector in Lebanon.