Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday welcomed at his Ain al-Tineh residence, Iranian Minister of Culture and Guidance, Mahdi Esmaili, in the presence of Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Muhammad Jalal Ferozania.
Berri also welcomed the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to Lebanon, Christophe Kwako, who paid him a protocol visit upon assuming his new duties in Lebanon.
The pair broached the country’s general situation, as well as bilateral relations between both countries.
Berri then met with Economy Minister, Amin Salam, with whom he discussed the latest developments, economic conditions, and food security.
On emerging, Salam said that he had met with Berri to “thank him for his support to the great work that was accomplished last week on the competition law, which falls within the context of the Ministry of Economy and Trade’s work.”
Salam said that he had also briefed Berri on the issue of consumer protection. “We are in constant contact with the House Speaker in terms of protecting citizens from all kinds of exploitation, monopoly, and fraud through the Consumer Protection Directorate,” Salam affirmed.
“The other matter that I’ve reassured Speaker Berri about was that of wheat, which is a food security issue par excellence. I’ve reassured the House Speaker that we are following up on this issue and, God willing, there will be no shortage of bread or wheat in Lebanon,” Salam said, adding that Berri has stressed the importance of clamping down on those who seek to take advantage of the Russian-Ukrainian war to manipulate the citizens’ livelihood and consequently tamper with the prices of wheat.
Berri separately welcomed head of the International Monetary Fund’s mission to Lebanon, Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo, who visited him with an accompanying delegation.
The stages of dialogue between Lebanon and the Fund were presented, as well as the Capital Control Law. The meeting emphasized that the law should preserve the rights of depositors as a top priority.