Aid conference for Lebanon: Macron reiterates his demands for reforms
Emmanuel Macron, gives an introductory speech during a videoconference on support and aid for Lebanon, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Wednesday, December 2, 2020. AP - Ian Langsdon
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A videoconference in support of the Lebanese population was organized this Wednesday evening at the initiative of France, in partnership with the United Nations, the second meeting of this type since the catastrophic explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, which worsened the situation of a country which was already sinking into a terrible economic and social crisis.
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Emmanuel Macron confirmed it by opening this videoconference: he will be going to Lebanon in December, it will be his third visit to this country since the explosion of the port of Beirut.
This Wednesday's meeting made it possible to take stock of the emergency aid released by the international community: but beyond the tens of thousands of tonnes of flour or the support for Lebanese schools mentioned by the French president, it is is a new warning to the political forces of Lebanon that delivered Emmanuel Macron: "
The commitments have not been respected
", launched the Head of State while the country of the Cedar is again stuck in negotiations for the formation of a government.
Read also: Lebanon, a country on its knees
"
We will not give up, neither on our promises nor on our demands,
" insists the French president.
Even if the French efforts are for the moment without result, the equation remains the same: Paris and the other international partners of Lebanon expect its leaders to reform their country in depth, to fight against corruption, mismanagement, patronage and opacity of which the Lebanese population is the first victim.
Without these reforms, donors have no intention of disbursing the pledged sum in 2018 - $ 11 billion - much more than the $ 280 million urgently released since
the explosion of the port of Beirut.
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