Miqati Tells Duquesne Won't Convene Cabinet before Resolving Dispute

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Monday told French presidential envoy Pierre Duquesne that “the contacts are still ongoing to resume Cabinet sessions, especially that the upcoming period requires holding intensive Cabinet sessions to take decision on numerous files.”

Miqati, however, noted that “calling for a Cabinet session without securing the appropriate circumstances might lead to further political tensions and might complicate the solutions.”

“That’s why we are continuing our contacts before taking a decision in this regard,” the premier added.

He also noted that the talks with the International Monetary Fund are “going well.”

The French envoy for his part said during the meeting that he has noticed “the presence of a lot of positive developments, including the continuation of the negotiation between Lebanon and the IMF in a positive manner.”

Calling on the Lebanese parties to agree on the “general principles for addressing the Lebanese crisis before reaching an agreement with the IMF,” Duquesne stressed that “the deal must be reached before the date of the upcoming parliamentary elections,” adding that “an agreement with the IMF might open the door to dialogue over the CEDRE Conference projects.”