REPORT: PM Hariri from Doha: The Arab region is in dire need of stability

Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Sunday that the Arab region is in dire need of stability.

 

Hariri’s comments were made during his speech at the 17th Doha Forum in Qatar whereby he said that Lebanon faces  difficulties represented by the presence of one and a half million displaced Syrians and half a million Palestinian refugee on its territories.”

 

“The Lebanese government decided to face this crisis and placed a unified vision for this goal by improving its infrastructure and public services,” Hariri added.

He also noted to the number of displaced and refugees in the country that reached almost half the number of the Lebanese citizens, saying that it raised the poverty rate to 30% and doubled the unemployment rate to 20%, and to more than 30% among the youth.

 

“The fiscal deficit increased while the economic growth fell from 8% before the crisis to almost 1% at present,” he concluded by saying.

 

Earlier, held talks with Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

 

Also, he met with Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and discussed with him the latest developments.

 

Hariri had arrived in Doha on Saturday evening.