Two days after the massive explosions in the port of Beirut, French President Emmanuel Macron was visiting the Lebanese capital on Thursday, August 6, where he met with the country's main political leaders and took a bath of crowd.
At the end of the afternoon, during a press conference, this one promised all the assistance of France in Lebanon, while calling for the "refoundation of a new political order" in the country.
LIVE | Press conference from Beirut. https://t.co/GapEb4HS0q
- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 6, 2020Emmanuel Macron calls for an "open and transparent" international investigation
Assuring Lebanon of the aid of France, Emmanuel Macron first announced the arrival on site of a new French plane "in a few hours" then the arrival, next Thursday, of the amphibious helicopter carrier Tonnerre which will bring medicines, nurses and equipment after the deadly explosions on Tuesday which left at least 137 dead and 5,000 injured.
Among the victims are at least "fifty Frenchwomen and French", specified the French president, even if it is according to him "too early to give definitive figures". The Tonnerre helicopter carrier, 200 meters long, contains 69 hospital beds with possible extension and two operating theaters and can transport up to 900 soldiers, according to the Ministry of Defense.
Emmanuel Macron also called for an "open, transparent" international investigation in order to avoid, according to him, that "things are hidden, and also that doubt sets in".
Arrived at the end of the morning in Lebanon, the French president met his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun and the main figures of the local political scene. "I was frank, direct, sincere, I expect the Lebanese authorities to make commitments," said Emmanuel Macron. France has already sent a detachment of Civil Security rescuers as well as medical equipment and medical teams to help the Lebanese rescue services.
Call for "deep political change"
Questioned many times about the political crisis that Lebanon has been going through for several months, the French president also called on the Lebanese leaders to make a "profound change" to get their country out of the political and economic impasse.
"It is the time of responsibility today for Lebanon and for its leaders," said Emmanuel Macron, who called for a "refoundation of a new political order" and "profound changes".
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