NNA - Council of Ministers Secretary-General, Alternate Governor of the Islamic Development Bank Group, Judge Mahmoud Makkieh, participated on Sunday in the consultative meeting of bank governors which was held today in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

In his word, Makkieh thanked the Bank Group for "holding the meeting in Medina", wishing "continued security and safety for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the preservation of its people and leaders". He thanked the Bank Group for adopting, to a large extent, the fifteen points that Lebanon had previously mentioned, on December 25th, in the Governors' Questionnaire related to the aspirations of the group's member countries for the next ten years (the Bank Group's Ten-Year Strategic Framework).

Makkieh stressed the "necessity of allocating grants or soft loans to member countries that have been exposed to devastating wars, crises, and major setbacks, adjusting the priorities related to those countries according to the changes."

He also underlined the need for channeling support to member countries and their institutions to achieve the desired reform and sustainability, hoping that the Bank Group "will not succumb to the incentives and temptations imposed by the emerging patterns in the financial markets, and adhere to the principles of Sharia, which provide a sustainable ethical economy and a guarantee for those dealing with the Bank Group."