EU urges Lebanese president for structural reforms

Beirut [Lebanon], September 21: The EU diplomat to Lebanon said here on Tuesday that the bloc is ready to support Lebanon on condition that the crisis-ridden country implements needed structural reforms, according to the Lebanese presidency.
EU Ambassador Ralph Tarraf made the remarks in a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, with the attendance of ambassadors of Switzerland and Norway, to express their growing concern about the current situation in Lebanon.
The bloc is ready to support Lebanon "politically and financially, in the context of implementing a sound economic recovery plan and an IMF program," Tarraf said.
"We urged the president to do his utmost to support and actively contribute to implementing crucial economic, monetary, and fiscal reforms that Lebanon has committed to," he noted, stressing "now is the time" for Lebanon to implement measures it agreed with the International Monetary Fund, as detailed in a staff-level agreement between the two sides in early April.
For his part, Aoun said Lebanon needs political and sovereign reform and structural changes in the system.
"It is difficult to run a country governed by three different leaders, which is why we are witnessing this kind of constitutional chaos, especially that the newly elected MPs (parliament members) have divergent affiliations," he said.
Source: Xinhua