Lebanese Canadian Bank – Georges Abou Jaoude

E Marwan Iskandar recently said that it is not realistic to think that Lebanon has not been affected by the global financial crisis, especially considering the public debt. He said that one way to deal with the public debt from worsening would be through government reforms; what’s your take on this? We shouldn’t kid ourselves. Because of globalization, I doubt that any part of the world or any living creature has not been affected by the crisis. We have been hit a little bit less than other economies. We can feel effects on the real estate sector — prices were booming, now they have stabilized or are receding. What Iskandar said, to a certain extent, is true. As far as the banking sector goes, it is helping the government financially. We are making life easier for the politicians. In my view, we should apply many more conditions when we lend