Lebanon Hopes Donors' Conference Held Soon

Published June 28th, 2000 - 03:00 GMT

Lebanon hopes a conference soliciting donations for the reconstruction of its south will be held soon, Prime Minister Salim Hoss said Wednesday.

"We are going to pursue steps to convene a donors' congress before the end of the month of July, despite the reservations of certain international parties that are hoping for more time to organize it," Hoss said in a statement without identifying the parties.

Hoss said Beirut feared such a conference could be postponed indefinitely if it is not organized quickly.

The Lebanese government last week announced a five-year, 1.2 billion-dollar plan to repair and develop southern Lebanon.

Beirut only has 45 million dollars immediately available for south Lebanon projects and so far has received pledges of just 177 million dollars in grants or loans from Arab and international development funds - BEIRUT (AFP)