Pyongyang, October 20 (KCNA) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman Monday urged a quick solution to the country's issue of poverty and tackling unemployment by creating more jobs.

Suleiman, at a ceremony launching a national program for poorest families, said woes will be solved once Lebanon starts exploiting its offshore gas reserves and becomes an oil exporter.

Suleiman said the program enabled every Lebanese family to apply to state assistance.

The Lebanese president said Lebanon's future was not bleak, adding that his country has an opportunity to solve the problem of public debt through the offshore oil and gas exploration in its territorial waters.