The Ministry of Finance witnessed a series of prominent meetings, which Minister Yassin Jaber began by receiving a delegation from the Association of Banks headed by Salim Sfeir, where they discussed developments in the reform laws, specifically the Financial Regulatory and Deposit Recovery Law in light of the recent amendments to it, and the ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund to reach a joint and acceptable final formula.

The association’s delegation demanded that the law include points that protect banks’ private funds and avoid what they described as “arbitrariness” so as not to be a victim of the banking crisis, while Minister Jaber stressed that any internal or external discussion is governed by the interest of the country, public finances, the Bank of Lebanon, and the banks, while emphasizing that the rights of depositors are the basis for any treatment.

Jaber explained that the Fund’s description of the crisis as “systemic” was consistent with the Ministry’s vision, which considered it, in the reasons requiring the law, to be a “comprehensive” crisis resulting from a defect in the management of public finances and monetary policy. He called on the parties to deal responsibly and fairly in order to avoid creating new victims, and the two sides agreed to continue consultation.

Regarding development and relief matters, Jaber reviewed with Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani and Director General Louis Lahoud the damage that befell the agricultural sector and its negative effects on the local product and the economic situation, and discussed with them ways to support farmers.

He also met with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, to discuss the relief assistance that the international organization can provide to those displaced as a result of the Israeli attacks through programmed support based on the “Lebanon Recovery Plan” established in 2024. The minister concluded his meetings by presenting the general situation with former Minister Ghazi Al-Aridi.