Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib confirmed that Lebanon is collapsing due to the lack of financial, economic, and monetary reforms, expressing hope that his country will get through this difficult situation and return to a state of self-sufficiency without relying on aid. Bou Habib stated during his participation in the seventh edition of the "Mediterranean Dialogues" conference held in Rome from the second to the fourth of this month that "the steps are still slow towards this goal, and we must accelerate because every day that passes without implementing reforms worsens the situation; the International Monetary Fund is cooperating with us to help, so we must hurry."
Regarding Italy linking its assistance to Lebanon with specific reform conditions, Minister Bou Habib said, "Italy is among a group of countries stating that assisting Lebanon requires achieving reforms to provide support, and I do not mean financial support but rather projects. I do not consider these conditions as such; rather, they are Lebanese conditions for Lebanon to carry out the reforms, as we cannot continue like this."
He praised the announcement by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to provide assistance to the Lebanese army, including food and fuel, saying, "The Lebanese army is the backbone of the country, so I extend my gratitude to UNIFIL and what it and other countries are doing to assist the army."
