Qatar's ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Ali Nuaimi, said Tuesday that he hoped a conference of donor countries, organized to finance the reconstruction of the south, would not be postponed for too long, reported the Daily Star newspaper.
"South Lebanon is in urgent need of assistance. Donor countries should keep their promise to help Lebanon," Nuaimi said.
The conference, originally scheduled for October 9th and 10th, was postponed indefinitely over the weekend until the formation of Lebanon's new government after October 17th, according to the paper.
"I hope the necessary funds are given after the conference to carry out projects," Nuaimi said after meeting former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
"I also hope the meeting of non-governmental organizations, due at the end of September, is successful and agrees to finance urgent projects for the South's people," the ambassador added.
Meanwhile, a government source revealed that Italy had welcomed the idea of holding the conference as scheduled, said the Daily Star.
"During a meeting with Prime Minister Salim Hoss at the United Nations last week, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini said his government had no problem with holding the conference on time," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"He also promised that during the NGO conference here, Italian participants will seriously look into a government plan to raise $150 million for urgent projects in the South," the source added.
The source said a mini-conference, which will be held on September 28th, may raise up to $260 million, "but even that sum would be too little, taking into consideration that the government estimates the South's needs at $1.2 billion."
Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Cassini discussed the NGO conference during a meeting with Hoss on Tuesday, added the paper.
"Italy believes the conference will be a very important chance for redressing some of the needs of the South," he said - Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
