Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Wednesday visited the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Beirut, where he met with Metropolitan Elias Audi, who expressed his deep concerns regarding the living, educational, and health conditions experienced by every Lebanese amid the economic hardship that the nation endures.

Mikati said that the meeting had been an opportunity to discuss the steps taken by the government to help alleviate the tough living conditions nationwide. 

"We’ve also discussed the repercussions of August 4 blast (…). I’ve informed His Excellency about the launch of an initiative titled ‘B5’ tomorrow afternoon at Grand Serail with the hope that Beirut will restore its business cycle. The initiative covers the areas that have been affected by August 4 blast, and is carried out by the World Bank and the European Union; its aim is to give the necessary assistance to commercial enterprises so as to return to their normal activity," Mikati said. 

He also relayed Audi’s keenness on a "proper judiciary, which must perform its role in a fair manner based on unified laws, so that the truth could be reached while preserving the constitution, which is above all laws."

Asked whether he preferred keeping Beirut blast dossier in Judge Bitar’s hands, Mikati said: "We support keeping said file in his hands, and we’d rather not interfere in the work of the judiciary."