On the sidelines of her participation in the "World Government Summit" in Dubai, Hanin Sayyed, Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, told Annahar that there is widespread discussion at the summit about economic, financial, and social reforms. "Lebanon is following the same reform path, as evidenced by our latest initiative in the Council of Ministers, in which we approved the Financial Gap Law, which ensures social justice for about 85 percent of depositors in Lebanese banks, returning to them amounts under $100,000 within a short period."

Sayyed added: "The Financial Gap Law is one step among several, so that we can eventually reach an agreement with the IMF and the international community," noting that the IMF and supporting institutions are waiting for Lebanon to implement the final required steps. "We are advanced in this matter, and hopefully we will witness progress in this regard in the coming weeks."

On the issue of Lebanon selling or liquidating part of its gold reserves, amid the sharp rise in global gold prices and external pressures on this matter, Sayyed commented: "The issue of gold is a sovereign matter not subject to external pressures, and the Lebanese people decide on it through the Parliament, based on Lebanon’s specific needs."

World Government Summit. (AFP)

She concluded by emphasizing that the decision on gold "lies with the Parliament."