BEIRUT, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri urged Tuesday the parliament to accelerate the approval of 2019 state budget to enable the country to start needed reforms, a statement by the PM's office reported.
"We have discussed the 2019 budget during 19 meetings in the council of ministers. We should approve it to send positive signals to the international community about our seriousness to implement reforms," Hariri said during a meeting for the council of ministers.
The prime minister said the government should work fast to start with the first phase of investments funded by CEDRE.
"We should make the necessary appointments in the public sector, in addition to reforming and overhauling the different economic sectors," he said.
The CEDRE is an international conference which pledged to issue 11 U.S. billion dollars in loans and donations for Lebanon on condition that the country makes serious reforms.
