President Michel Aoun told the World Bank Group's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Kumar Jha, whom he welcomed on Wednesday afternoon at Baabda Palace, that "the coming government will include experienced, competent and reputable ministers, free of suspicions of corruption."
He pointed out that "investigations that will be conducted with current and former officials around whom there are question marks, will exclude nobody."
"Lebanon is at a delicate crossroads, especially in economic terms, and is in dire need of a harmonious government capable of producing; a government that is not hampered by political conflicts and rivalries," Aoun said, noting that the project meant to fight against corruption "are in the hands of the House of Representatives, the most important of which is the lifting of bank secrecy and immunity on perpetrators, the recovery of looted funds, and the establishment of the Special Court for financial crimes."
The Head of State stressed that he was working to address "a legacy of decades of corruption" and "will continue to work so that I can eradicate it and put an end to waste and chaos in State administrations and institutions."
He noted that 17 corruption-related files have been referred to the judiciary, and all those involved, whether by participating or facilitating, will be held accountable.
The President thanked Jha for "the support provided by the World Bank to Lebanon," pointing out that "any delay in the completion of one or more projects is due either to administrative routines or to the lack of supplementary funds," promising to "find solutions to such a delay "once the new government is formed."
Jha, in turn, conveyed to Aoun the views of the World Bank on the latest developments, stressing "the continuation of assistance to Lebanon in the fields it requests help with."
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