Lebanon’s foreign minister resigns over lack of will to reform

Nassif Hitti, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, has tendered his resignation over what he described as a lack of political will to reform as the country battles with a financial crisis.

While disclosing this in a statement on Monday August 3, 2020, Hitti stated that the absence of an effective will to achieve structural, comprehensive reform which our society and the international community have compelled him to resign.

“I took part in this government to work for one boss called Lebanon, then I found in my country multiple bosses and contradicting interests,“ he said.

“If they do not come together in the interest of rescuing the Lebanese people, God forbid, the ship will sink with everyone on it,” he added.

The former Lebanese ambassador to the Arab league, became the foreign minister in January when Prime Minister Hassan Diab took office with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its allies.

Sources close to the Ministry revealed that Hitti’s decision to quit was also triggered by differences with Diab, especially after a recent visit by France’s foreign minister, and frustration at being sidelined.

The state entered talks with the IMF in May after defaulting on its hefty foreign currency debt.

However, hopes of salvation through an IMF deal have been put on hold in the absence of reforms and amid differences between the government and banks over the financial losses.