Aoun Meets Miqati, Says Govt. to Address Cost-of-Living Issues

President Michel Aoun met Thursday in Baabda with Prime Minister Najib Miqati to discuss the general situations in the country in light of the latest developments.

The Presidency said the discussions tackled “the need to speed up the launching of the ration card in light of the surge in fuel prices and its impact on the prices of commodities and foodstuffs.”

Aoun and Miqati also addressed “the fate of the $246 million World Bank loan and the solutions in this regard.”

They also touched on “the outcome of the visits that are being made by a number of international envoys, the developments of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, and a number of solutions for addressing the situations of public sector employees in light of the difficult economic and financial situations that the country is going through.”

Later in the day, Aoun held talks with U.N. Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka.

The Presidency said Aoun stressed to her “that the preparations are ongoing to begin negotiations with IMF as soon as possible.”

“The financial forensic audit of the central bank’s accounts started today by the Alvarez & Marsal firm and the government will carry on with tackling the pressing cost-of-living issues to curb their negative repercussions on citizens in light of the hike in fuel prices,” Aoun told Wronecka.

The President also said that “the probe into the Beirut port blast crime is ongoing to determine responsibilities according to the applicable legal norms.”