Mikati holds separate meetings with Abdul Karim, Ghosn and Salameh

PM Najib Mikati held separate meetings on Tuesday with Lebanese General Federation of Labor Unions (CGTL), headed by Ghassan Ghosn, Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim and Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh.

The CGTL confirmed that PM Najib Mikati is working on raising the minimum wage, adding that “the prime minister is holding meetings with the concerned ministers to tackle the minimum wage issue within the framework of index committees and sub-committees.”

In regional affairs, Mikati was reassured by Ambassador Karim that Syria is emerging from its ordeal stronger than before, adding that “Assad is seeking to carry out reforms and the situation in Syria is improving.”

Asked about Mikati’s secret visit to Damascus Airport, the Syrian ambassador said “we don’t take into consideration rumors published in newspapers; Mikati is welcome to Syria anytime.”

With Central Bank Governor Salameh the PM discussed the financial safety and the situation of the banking sector in Lebanon. Last months, Salameh told An-Nahar that these legislators are clearly aware of the negative rumors targeting both banking and financial sectors in Lebanon, as they confirmed that neither the sector nor the banks will be affected by the sanctions imposed on Syria, to avoid an incident similar to that of the Lebanese-Canadian Bank in February.  

Asked about Lebanon banking sector’s relations with international banks, Salameh said, “We look forward to fostering these relations to provide more facilities and protect payment systems” 

“More than 40 banks in Lebanon confirmed that they will keep the same ongoing banking and financial policy which is a reassuring factor that this sector remains healthy”