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An upcoming visit by Macron to Lebanon in December (Hussein Baydoun)
Today, Thursday morning, the French presidential envoy began his tours of political leaders in Lebanon, in a visit summarized by the sources of the French embassy in Beirut, to “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed”, with a broad title, which means “delivering the messages of French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he reiterates his call to officials to form a government as soon as possible, and the necessary reforms began.”
The advisor to the French president for Near Eastern Affairs, Patrick Dorrell, met with President Michel Aoun on Thursday at the Baabda Palace (seat of the First Presidency), in the presence of the French ambassador in Beirut, Anne Griot.
President Aoun received the advisor to the French president for Near Eastern Affairs, Patrick Dorrell, in the presence of the French ambassador to Beirut, Anne Griot. The meeting dealt with Lebanese-French relations, the French initiative and the government file pic.twitter.com/PdP6jq0nG8
– Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) November 12, 2020
Baabda Palace circles indicated to Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that the meeting was positive, and offered French assurance that the Elysee would continue to support the efforts of President Aoun and with him Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to form a government that enjoy popular confidence and French coverage and international support, to start the process of advancing the country attached to a structural reform workshop.
The same circles confirmed that the French presidential envoy emphasized to President Aoun the extent of Macron’s interest in the Lebanese dossier and his continued monitoring of it, but at the same time stakeholders should accelerate the government formation process to meet with them in the international conference of support that Macron had promised on his last visit to Beirut earlier this month. Last September, with the aim of helping Lebanon.
As a result of the explosion that occurred in the port of Beirut on August 4, France hosted a hypothetical international conference in support of Lebanon, in which representatives of some thirty countries participated, so that the total value of the aid reached the 252.7 million euros, including 30 million euros from the French side. As announced by the French presidency.
In context, a French diplomatic source told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that Macron’s next visit to Lebanon in December, which was announced by the French presidency, is still valid until this time, but the calendar of his programs and meetings will vary, depending on developments. Lebanese government. Therefore, Lebanese officials must make a great effort to form a government before the French president travels to Beirut for the third time, and to initiate the necessary reforms that are a prerequisite for the unlocking of aid, whether related to the conference. CEDRE or other international support conferences, and the French envoy will also talk about that. With the political forces that met at the Pine Palace, highlighting that Macron’s adviser does not carry with him any new initiative, and does not do any work that can be placed within the framework of interference in Lebanese affairs, but will be repeated on each occasion that France will not deliver any blank checks to Lebanon from No Arrangements.
Macron visited Lebanon for the first time on August 6, that is, two days after the Beirut port explosion, before returning again on the 31st of the same month, after the parliamentary blocs appointed the Lebanese ambassador to Germany Mustafa Adib. and they assigned him to form a government, but he returned. He apologized for not fulfilling his functions, as a consequence of the intransigence of the traditional political parties and the conflict that was and still is based on “ministerial quotas”, which prevented the formation of a new government, in addition to disputes over the form of government, the number of ministers and the principle of portfolio rotation, amid the insistence of the Amal Movement. The president of the parliament, Nabih Berri) directs it, and with him “Hezbollah”, to keep the Ministry of Finance out of circulation and exclude it from the principle of rotation.
The Baabda Palace information office indicated that President Aoun informed Macron’s adviser that “Lebanon adheres to the French initiative, and this matter will only be achieved through a reliable government capable of carrying out the required reforms mentioned in the document agreed between President Macron and Lebanese political leaders, and Effective coordination with international partners who pledged to help Lebanon emerge from the difficult economic and financial conditions it is experiencing.
Aoun highlighted that the financial forensic audit process in the accounts of the Banque du Liban, which is considered one of the pillars of these reforms, faces many obstacles, which we determined with determination to achieve. The company “Alvarez y Marsal” has been extended three months to ensure this purpose.
The President of the Republic noted that the main concern today is the country’s continued stability amid regional storms and the unprecedented crises facing Lebanon, noting that the US sanctions against Lebanese politicians have further complicated things. Noting that it included, finally, his brother-in-law, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, deputy Gebran Bassil.
President Aoun entrusted Chancellor Dorrell with his greetings to the French president, appreciating that he would stand by Lebanon in these difficult circumstances, because President Macron is a great friend of Lebanon.
For his part, Councilor Dorrell conveyed to President Aoun President Macron’s greeting and his interest in the situation in Lebanon, highlighting the strength of relations between the two countries, pointing out the sensitivity and seriousness of the economic crisis and the need to accelerate the formation of an efficient government acceptable to all parties in order to undertake the required reforms and restore the confidence of the international community.
Durrell indicated that France will continue to provide urgent aid in various fields, especially education, and pointed out that the international community’s fulfillment of its commitments to Lebanon is linked to the achievement of reforms.
The French delegate met with the President of Parliament, Nabih Berri, in Ain al-Tina (Berri’s headquarters in Beirut), and will meet with the various political leaders of Lebanon, respectively.
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