The Speaker of the House Nabih Berri emphasized today, Monday, "on behalf of himself and the parliament, the absolute commitment to the funds and rights of depositors fully, no matter how long it takes to repay them," stressing that "ensuring the rights of all depositors is the cornerstone of the agreement with the IMF." Berri's remarks came during a meeting with Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, the head of the IMF mission in Lebanon, and the accompanying delegation, where the course of negotiations with the IMF and the reform laws and legislation completed by the parliament, as well as those still in progress, were discussed. It was confirmed that there is a need to expedite the completion of the remaining required legislation and laws.
Berri also received the Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Sheikh Muhammad Imam, and the Mufti of Akkar, Sheikh Zaid Bakr Zakaria at the head of a religious delegation, where they discussed the general situation and developmental issues. After the meeting, Sheikh Muhammad Imam stated: "The meeting with President Nabih Berri was exceptional because we believe that bridging the gaps between regions and between Lebanese people is the most successful path to achieving our goals and solutions, as we should listen to each other and dialogue without distances or intermediaries." He added: "We discussed several developmental issues with His Excellency, the most important being the Qlayaat Airport for the opportunities it represents for jobs and positive impact on mobility, as well as the military court that is looking into the cases of Islamic detainees. His Excellency was proactive in finding solutions and expediting fair trials for those with cases. We also discussed the attacks that contradict divine laws and sound instincts, known as gender issues and deviation; His Excellency's stance in this area is well-known, as is the stance of the Minister of Culture and state figures, including the Minister of Interior and the Prime Minister; all of them are in the direction of protecting our generations, communities, and families from this subject." In the afternoon, President Berri received Antoine Zahri, the President of the Lebanese Red Cross, in the presence of Mrs. Amina Fawaz, head of the Medical and Social Services Department at the Red Cross.
