President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, received the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, at his office in downtown Beirut, in the presence of Political Adviser Dr. Carol Zouein. They discussed local, regional, and international developments.
Following the meeting, Makhzoumi commended the United Nations’ continued support for Lebanon amid the economic, financial, and health crises the country is facing. He also highlighted the support provided by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south and its role in monitoring the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Makhzoumi expressed hope that the United Nations would play a role in the maritime border demarcation process. He emphasized the importance of launching oil and gas extraction, which could help rescue the country from its current economic crisis and transform Lebanon from a rentier economy into a genuinely productive economy.
Makhzoumi called for a more active role for UN organizations in supporting oversight institutions, forces advocating change, and civil society organizations in the national recovery process, whose first building block was laid by the parliamentary elections. Those elections produced a new balance of power and demonstrated that the Lebanese people are eager to change the corrupt ruling establishment that governed the country for decades and brought it to this unprecedented collapse.
Furthermore, Makhzoumi stressed the need to form a government as soon as possible, with negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the top of its priorities.
Makhzoumi also received Moroccan Ambassador M’hammed Grine at his office. He stressed the importance of strengthening Lebanese-Moroccan relations and underscored the need for Lebanon to pursue cooperation with Morocco and Arab countries in general across various fields.
Discussing the Tangier Dialogue, scheduled to take place on June 10 and 11, 2022, Makhzoumi highlighted the importance of dialogue among different civilizations, religions, and cultures, as well as of fostering mutual respect among all.
He also received Turkish Ambassador Ali Barış Ulusoy. Makhzoumi emphasized the importance of strengthening Lebanese-Turkish relations and the need for cooperation between the two countries across various sectors, particularly the economic, commercial, and tourism sectors.
