International Support Group for Lebanon Urges 'Effective Govt. Decisions'

The International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG) said Wednesday that it has taken note of steps to reconvene the Council of Ministers, urging the resumption of its meetings as soon as possible.

“The ISG urges expeditious and effective government decisions to initiate the direly needed reforms as well as measures, among which the swift adoption of a budget for 2022, that would enable an agreement with the IMF to support a way out of the macro-economic and fiscal crises,” it said in a statement.

It further called on the Government of Lebanon to take the necessary steps to “ensure fair, transparent and inclusive elections in May 2022 as scheduled, including by enabling the Supervisory Commission for Elections to carry out its mandate.”

As for the Beirut port blast investigations, the ISG reiterated its call for :justice and accountability through a transparent and independent investigation” and for “the respect of the independence of the judiciary.”

The ISG also emphasized that it “continues to stand by Lebanon and its people.”

The International Support Group has brought together the U.N. and the governments of China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the UK and the U.S., together with the EU and the Arab League.  It was launched in 2013 by the U.N. Secretary-General with former President Michel Suleiman to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions.