About 4 months after the port explosion … no free aid to Lebanon from donor countries

Western powers seeking to save Lebanon’s economy, which is on the verge of collapsing, sent the country’s leaders a warning: There are no steps to lift the country off its stumbling block unless they form a credible government to quickly fix the situation in the bankrupt state.
France, the United States and other donor countries, which had previously provided aid to Lebanon more than once since the civil war that broke out between 1975 and 1990, are running out of patience for politicians, many of whom were familiar faces during the slide. of the country towards its economic crisis, as reported by the “Reuters” news agency.
Last year, major protests broke out against the ruling elite, as people held them responsible for looking out for their vested interests at a time when public debt was rising. The coronavirus pandemic increased pressure on the country’s resources and a massive explosion at the Beirut port during August destroyed large areas of the city.
With the depletion of dollars, a shortage of basic goods, including medicines, appeared and an increasing number of people fell into poverty in Lebanon.
French President Emmanuel Macron quickly visited the city after the explosion and tried to persuade politicians to implement at least partial reforms to address the emergency situation.
However, competing factions still struggle for influence, and Lebanon has not formed a government since the government whose collapse in August and its aftermath caused its collapse. As in previous crises, each side accused the other of being responsible for this situation.
Two sources who participated in the talks in Beirut last week said Patrick Daryl, Macron’s adviser for Middle East and North Africa affairs, made clear in the talks that, while Paris kept its promises, “we will not save them unless let there be reforms “.
A Western diplomat said France was still trying to organize a conference to discuss reconstruction in Beirut in late November, but doubts remain. “There is no news,” the diplomat added to the Reuters news agency. Lebanese politicians have returned to their method of work, and the worrying thing is the total disregard for the people.

* Without free help
Dorothy Shea, the US ambassador to Lebanon, said in a conference call from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Friday that the United States “realizes that Lebanon is important” and that it “prevents the failure of the state … it should be the top priority. ” But he added: “We really can’t want it more than they want it.” And he stressed that there are no rescue plans without reforms. And he continued: “We gain sophistication.” Adding that there will be a “gradual approach, step by step, and nothing is free”.
Saad Hariri, the prime minister appointed under the country’s sectarian power-sharing agreement, is fighting to form a government. Some sources say the efforts have been complicated by recent sanctions imposed by the United States on Gebran Bassil, the son-in-law of President Michel Aoun and who heads the Free Patriotic Movement, the country’s largest Christian party.
The sanctions were imposed on Bassil based on allegations of corruption and his ties to the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist group, while Bassil denies the corruption charges.
Official sources say the main stumbling block is Aoun and Bassil’s insistence on appointing ministers in the 18-member government. Hariri wants all ministers to be specialists and not tied to political parties.
A source close to the talks said some concerned people mentioned Bassil as the main obstacle to forming a government. Bassil denies the accusation and says his party has the right to appoint ministers, as others have been able to appoint ministers.
A source familiar with Hezbollah thinking said that Daryl asked the group to try to persuade Bassil to soften his position, but that Hezbollah is refusing to pressure him because that could further weaken him.

Hardened situations
Various sources said that the current stagnation is a suicidal situation for the country which is rapidly depleting its foreign reserves. These reserves are estimated at just $ 17.9 billion.
Due to the sanctions, which Ambassador Chia recognized as part of the “maximum pressure” campaign imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Iran, Iran and its allies are heading to wait until Trump leaves office. However, some officials in Lebanon have warned against the waiting game.
A high-level political source familiar with the talks said: “The message from the French is now clear: no government, no reform, then goodbye and thank you.” “And if the French wash their hands on this matter, who will look at us?” No one. “He continued:” At the end of the day, they don’t know how to deal with the exceptional circumstances and challenges … We continue to deal with the formation of the government as if we were living normal days. “
Ambassador Chia said donors must maintain their position, otherwise the political elite will not take them seriously.
He added: “If they don’t feel the importance of time to form a government, how can we continue to pressure them?” They look at us and their condition says: Try to get us to implement a reform, it will be interesting to see you try.