10 Feb 2019

Prime Minister Saad Hariri highlighted the government's intention to fight corruption, a statement by Hariri's Press Office indicated on Sunday.

"The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri highlighted the government's intention to fight corruption, adding that the most important challenges facing the government will be squander and corruption," the statement indicated, noting that Hariri was replying to questions from a number of television stations in the UAE.

Question: Do you think there are external interventions to obstruct reforms in Lebanon?

Hariri: Foreign interventions have nothing to do with reforms. Our problem, as Lebanese, is that we use interventions as a pretext to block issues. What we agreed on as Lebanese political parties is that the regional disputes will continue. I will not be convinced of Hezbollah’s policy nor will Hezbollah be convinced of mine. So what should we do about that? Shall we block the country or put the regional differences aside and carry out reforms that benefit the Lebanese citizen?

In the past, there was a revival but no one reflected on its positive or negative points. When globalization happened, a large part of the world did not benefit from it. Today, the debate is about how to face this and other challenges.

Question: Is it possible to transfer the Emirati experience to Lebanon? Are there assurances for expatriates about Lebanon’s future?

Hariri: We should not only transfer this experience but we should also learn. The most important thing is to benefit each other. There are things we can learn from the UAE and vice versa. The government that will carry out this work is a government that enjoys a national consensus in Lebanon. Therefore, we must carry out the reforms. All my focus now is on implementing these reforms for the interest of the Lebanese economy, the investor, the Lebanese citizen, and the Lebanese youth.

Question: What are the most important challenges that will face the government?

Hariri: Fighting corruption and squander is one of the most important things we will face. Corruption is rampant in Lebanon and this is a fact we must face. We must also look at the mistakes and fix them. When we face corruption and squander, we create new employment opportunities for young men and women." {PM Press Office}

HARIRI MEETS WITH DUBAI RULER, LAGARDE

10 Feb 2019

Dubai - Prime Minister Saad Hariri conferred with Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, on the sidelines of his participation today in the "World Government Summit" in Dubai, a statement by Hariri's Press Office indicated on Sunday.

"On the sidelines of his participation today in the "World Government Summit" in Dubai, the President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri met with the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the presence of Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future Mohammad Al Gergawi, the Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri and the President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO and chairman of the Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum," the statement indicated.

"The meeting was also attended by members of the Lebanese accompanying delegation. Talks focused on the latest regional, Arab and international developments and bilateral relations," the statement added.

Separately, Hariri met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde. He also met with the Kataeb Party Head, Sami Gemayel, who is participating in the Summit. {PM Press Office}

HARIRI, CROWN PRINCE OF ABU DHABI MEET IN DUBAI

10 Feb 2019

Dubai - Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Sunday with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, on the sidelines of his participation in the "World Government Summit" in Dubai.

Talks between the pair reportedly touched on the situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as the bilateral ties between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, Under Secretary of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Diwan Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, former Minister Ghattas Khoury and Lebanese Ambassador to UAE, Fouad Dandan.