Lebanon PM underlines 2nd phase of arms control plan

BEIRUT, Jan 12 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Monday that his government is determined to implement the first phase of the previously announced arms control plan and the following stages.
Salam made the remarks while welcoming the ambassadors of the Quintet Committee, comprising Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Walid Bukhari, France's Ambassador Hervأ© Magro, Qatar's Ambassador Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egypt's Ambassador Alaa Moussa, and United States Ambassador Michel Issa.
He thanked the Quintet ambassadors for their visit and for their continued support of the Lebanese government's reform path, particularly their commendation of the financial regularization and deposit recovery bill that the government has submitted to Parliament.
For his part, Egyptian Ambassador Alaa Moussa said that the purpose of the visit was to discuss several issues that have arisen over the past period, foremost among them the economic reforms adopted by the government.
He emphasized that the financial regularization law is a step in the right direction toward restoring the confidence of international institutions, as well as regaining the trust of partners in economic matters.
He added that they had also discussed with the Prime Minister the completion of the first phase of arms control south of the Litani River, and the government's intention to begin the second phase early next February. (end) ayb.mt