BEIRUT, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday announced it has noted progress in the negotiations with Lebanon that would lead to the signing of a memorandum of understanding before clinching the final contract to unlock loan, Lebanon's state-owned National News Agency reported.
The announcement was made after a meeting at Baabda Palace between Lebanese President Michel Aoun and an IMF delegation, which was headed by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, the IMF's head of mission for Pakistan, Middle East and Central Asia.
During their meeting, the delegation and Aoun discussed a recovery plan adopted by the Lebanese government.
The IMF delegation requested a commitment from Lebanon's top leaders to move forward with the required reforms adopted by the plan, including the capital control law, amendments to the banking secrecy law, and the restructuring of the financial and banking sector as well as Lebanon's Central Bank.
On January 24, Lebanon began the first round of talks with the IMF, in the hopes of unlocking aid for the crisis-stricken country. ■
