"We exchanged ideas, and discussed the general budget headings. The discussions were technical and they were very good,” the Minister told Lebanon Opportunities.

Speaking at a Q-A session organized by Lebanon Opportunities magazine at Le Bristol Hotel on Friday, El Hassan said that further cabinet meetings will be held on Wednesday or Thursday to complete discussions on the proposal.

“I don’t think that there are structural and technical differences between parties on the draft budget,” she said.

El Hassan said that the Ministry will start preparing the 2011 draft budget next week. She said that next year’s draft budget will be based on different standards, and will mainly target expenditure rationalization.

The Q-A assembly was attended by a group of businessmen and economists where Minister El Hassan answered questions of the attendees.