Prime Minister Mikati received on Tuesday with Chairman of Association of Banks Salim Sfeir and discussed with him banking and public financial affairs.
Sfeir stressed the need to protect depositors in any plan set by the government to deal with losses that have piled up over the past years.
Sfeir explained that the losses are actually obligations of the state and their fair distribution should not be at the expense of individual depositors and economic sectors. He added that destroying private wealth, and ending the possibility of future financing would only bring down the economy, decrease the chances of restoring growth, and reduce the odds of the country getting out of stagnation.
Sfeir praised the efforts of Mikati's economic team, which re-launched negotiations with the International Monetary Fund with a scientific approach far from popular opinion.
Sfeir also said to the Prime Minister that the banks that have borne the greatest burden of material and moral losses in light of systematic campaigns to bankrupt the sector and with it depositors are still committed to ensuring the return of economic and financial stability to Lebanon.
Sfeir emphasized that Mikati considered protecting the depositors a top priority.