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Najib Mikati and his team of economists gave a brief summary of their “Road to Beirut Pact”, a document covering all available options aimed at boosting the country’s national economy. The Pact is not, as the tam puts it, ‘sacred’, but could be revised and amended in order to make it a source of agreement between various political and economic bodies. Experts from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have already discussed and debated The Pact, later presented to the Council of Ministers and all representatives of various economic commissions.
Premier Mikati reiterated that The Pact will be available online to all Lebanese should they wish to read it and voice an opinion. All interested parties will receive a copy of The Pact in preparation of a final document to be presented to the international committee to rally support.
Major Guidelines
Premier Mikati summed up the broad headlines of The Pact:
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Lebanon’s economy to be perceived as based on long term growth strategies, providing equal job opportunities to improve the standards of living |
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Major economic and social challenges to be addressed with their various options and conclusions |
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A methodology of work to comprise various work commissions implementing detailed reforms, to be later compiled in a comprehensive socio-economic program |
Beneficial Concessions
Premier Mikati indicated that in order to achieve economic growth, concessions must be made to Cabinet by all political, economic, and social parties on a series of interrelated policies, on legislations, and on various reform measures.
He said this should encourage Cabinet to move forward, as the moment is propitious for Lebanon, with the ongoing support of the international community, following the democratic drive of the Lebanese. This would achieve long-lasting results, averting the various pressures presently exerted on Lebanon.
Lebanon, says Premier Mikati, and since the Taef Agreement, has always been subjected to calls for economic reforms. Some of these reforms were only partly implemented, with no fruitful results, while other major achievements were made in other fields. One of the major causes of not promoting drastic economic reforms was political bickering. This resulted in some economic reforms being implemented while others have not, and all for political benefits.
Towards a New Agreement
By achieving these objectives, one would reach a long-lasting national pact setting the grounds for a new socio-economic agreement. Hence the title “The Road to Beirut Pact”.
Under the leadership of Premier Mikati, his Cabinet focused on bringing together all political, social and economic parties in order to draw up a strategy confronting the country’s economic and social challenges. It is hoped this will lead to a national program based on mutual concessions enabling Lebanon to rally support from the international committee and to boost the national economy.
Premier Mikati asserted that it is high time to move forward from political slogans to practical strategies, a crucial step to further develop economic debate, complementing the efforts of the government to move the political standards to a new level.
An Economic Taef Agreement
Premier Miakti concluded by saying that the “Beirut Pact” should be legalized, becoming a binding agreement after ‘all partners of Lebanon and with no exception’ agree on all its points. This “Pact’ is a not measure imposed on Lebanon by a regional or an international party but a global contract, reached by consensus between all Lebanese parties. It could be labeled as ‘The Taef Accord for Economy and Growth’.
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