BEIRUT, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- French Presidential Envoy Ambassador Pierre Dukan emphasized Thursday the importance of forming a government in Lebanon, local media reported.
Dukan also praised the efforts of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in passing a list of laws necessary to qualify for loans pledged at CEDRE despite the absence of a government, according to local news agency Al Markazia.
Dukan's remarks came during his visit to Berri in a bid to discuss the latest developments related to CEDRE.
Lebanon secured 11 U.S. billion dollars in loans and grants from international donors at CEDRE, an international conference in support of Lebanon development and reforms, to revamp its ailing infrastructure and bolster its economy.
However, French ambassador to Lebanon last month urged Berri to speed up the government formation, otherwise the money allocated for Lebanon at CEDRE will be given to other countries.
To qualify for the loans, Lebanon must form a government starting with necessary reforms.
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has been facing various hurdles in his attempt to form a 30-member national unity government comprising all the country's political parties, due to differences between rival politicians over the representation of the main Christian parties, as well as the Druze sect.
