Mikati criticizes al-Rahi, says seeking to resolve tents row diplomatically

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has taken a swipe at Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, accusing him of not being consistent in his stances regarding the issue of appointments.

“I’ve heard three sermons for Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and I totally respect him, but honestly let someone explain to me what he meant and what he wants. He said that there shouldn’t be appointments under a caretaker cabinet and then he stressed the need to name a chief of staff for the Lebanese Army. Let’s agree on a certain standard that should be practiced,” Mikati said, in an interview with Nidaa al-Watan newspaper published Tuesday.

Separately, Mikati said Lebanon is seeking to resolve the “Hezbollah tents” standoff with Israel in a diplomatic way.

“We are strenuously seeking to resolve the tents issue diplomatically and we consider the Ghajar village to be Lebanese with the acknowledgement of the U.N.,” Mikati said.

“We have informed the U.N. that we are willing to carry out a full demarcation of our entire southern border,” he added.

As for the looming expiry of Central Bank chief Riad Salameh’s term, Mikati pointed out that the Money and Credit Code stipulates that the first vice governor should replace the governor in such a case.

“Should he submit his resignation, he will be asked to carry out his duty in caretaker capacity and this is his duty,” the premier added, referring to First Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri.

Asked whether the Central Bank’s central council will continue to utilize the Sayrafa exchange platform and the current circulars, Mikati said: “This is their business. I met them around a month ago and told them that the countdown had started and that the governor’s term would not be extended nor there would be a new governor, without delving into details.”

“But among the measures that are being prepared is the unification of exchange rates,” Mikati said.

Asked who can guarantee that the exchange rate would not surge with Salameh’s departure, Mikati said: “This is a market and there are no guarantees. I’m working and my hope and wish is for the situation to improve.”

Mikati also revealed that the latest report of the Alvarez & Marsal firm about its initial findings regarding the auditing of the Central Bank’s accounts does not contain any information that is not already known.