Lebanon's central bank not bankrupt, governor says
Country’s economy contracted about 58 per cent between 2019 and 2021, World Bank figures show Lebanon’s central bank governor Riad Salameh has denied reports circulating in the country that the regulator is bankrupt. “What is being circulated about the bankruptcy of the central bank is incorrect,” Mr Salameh said in a statement sent to The National . “Despite the losses that sustained by Lebanon’s financial sector, which are being addressed in the recovery plan that is currently being prepared by the Lebanese government in co-operation with the International Monetary Fund, the Banque du Liban is still exercising its role entrusted to it under Article 70 of the Monetary and Credit Law, and will continue to do so,” he said. The statement comes after Lebanese media reported Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al Shami as saying the Lebanese state and central bank are bankrupt. Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he believed Mr Al Shami was referring to “liquidity, not solvency,” Reuters ...