Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rai received, in the Patriarchal Summer Monument in Diman, Minister of Finance Yassin Jaber, accompanied by Director General of the Ministry of Finance George Maarawi, in the presence of Patriarchal Vicar General Bishop Elias Nassar. During the meeting, the general conditions in the country were presented, especially the economic, financial and administrative reality, and the challenges facing Lebanon in light of the current regional circumstances, in addition to government efforts aimed at enhancing stability, launching the path of reform, and restoring confidence in the economy and state institutions. The research also discussed the work of the Ministry of Finance and the steps taken to develop administration, mechanize services, and modernize customs work, in addition to the process of reforming the banking sector, addressing the financial gap and protecting the rights of depositors, the relationship with the International Monetary Fund, and the importance of restoring international confidence in Lebanon. The meeting also touched on the conditions of public administration and its employees, its need for competencies, and a number of administrative files at hand, with an emphasis on adopting the principles of justice, equality, efficiency, and the proper functioning of public facilities. Jaber stressed "the importance of providing stability as the primary gateway to economic advancement," stressing "the necessity of protecting Lebanon and benefiting from the economic and investment opportunities available in the region, while the importance of concerted official and national efforts to rebuild confidence in the state and its institutions and put the country on the path to recovery and advancement was emphasized." After the meeting, Minister Jaber expressed his thanks to Patriarch Al-Rahi for his invitation, noting that “he placed his beatitude in the atmosphere of the stable financial situation despite the difficult events and circumstances that Lebanon is going through,” stressing “the continuation of government efforts at the internal and external levels, especially cooperation with Iraq in the oil file, and communication with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to restore the banking sector.” In response to a question related to the dissatisfaction prevailing in the public sector over the mechanism for disbursing earned increases, Jaber asserted that “the increases will be paid at the specified times without delay,” explaining that “the challenge lies in the mechanism for disbursing the retroactive effect that has been in place since March 1.” The Minister of Finance explained that “monetary pressure and pumping $420 million at once may harm the Lebanese pound and the rate of monetary stability,” detailing the government’s plan to pay the retroactive effect in successive installments to ensure the protection of the national currency, and declaring that “the government may accelerate the disbursement if financial revenues improve.” Jaber concluded by calling on public sector employees to “understand the Ministry of Finance’s plan, which balances fairness to them and protecting the purchasing power of all Lebanese.” This morning, Patriarch Al-Rahi received the new permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Bishop Christophe the Chaplain, in the presence of Bishops Elias Nassar and Joseph Naffa. During the meeting, a presentation was made of the new mission that the Bishop will assume in mid-September, and of the role played by the Holy See in international forums in the service of peace, dialogue, and human dignity. Patriarch Al-Rahi wished Bishop Al-Qassis success in his new message, stressing “the importance of the Holy See’s active presence in the United Nations, working to promote a culture of peace and convergence among peoples, and carrying Lebanon’s message based on dialogue, coexistence and openness.”