Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Monday that electing Charles Arbid as president for the Economic and Social Council is a new achievement to be added to the record of the restoration of confidence cabinet, noting that the government has prioritized the reactivation of the institutions.
“Today is a beginning and there are a lot to be done and numerous challenges to be overcome, we have many economic problems and we must cooperate in order to find the solutions,” he stated.
Hariri expressed gratitude to President Michel Aoun “who has been the one to set in motion the Economic and Social Council,” and to Speaker Nabih Berri “who also had a major role in this achievement.”
The prime minister pointed out that the Paris conference was a roadmap aiming at providing Lebanon with political, security and economic support.
“The Paris conference was the political support, there will be a conference soon in Rome to raise support for the Lebanese army and the security forces and there will also be a conference to raise economic support for Lebanon,” he explained.
Hariri added that this stage requires cooperation in order to revive the Lebanese economy, stressing that the Economic and Social Council is one of the pillars of the modern state.
Commenting on his relation with the Lebanese Forces, Hariri emphasized the need to keep the differences aside in order to build on the positive things.
Concerning the presence of gunmen during the protests outside the US Embassy in Awkar on Sunday, Hariri said that whoever breaches the law will pay the price, stating that “had the demonstrations remained peaceful, the required message would have been delivered.”