Emmanuel Macron, who begins his second visit to Lebanon in less than a month, arrived in the land of the Cedar, Monday, August 31, in the early evening.

This express trip is intended to try to encourage Lebanese officials to address the roots of the economic, financial and social crisis in which the country has been plunged for months and that the explosion of August 4 in the port of Beirut got even worse.

"Lebanese, you are like brothers to the French. I promised you: I am coming back to Beirut to take stock of emergency aid and build with you the conditions for reconstruction and stability", the president tweeted in French and Arabic.

Lebanese, you are like brothers to the French.

I made the promise to you: I am coming back to Beirut to take stock of emergency aid and build with you the conditions for reconstruction and stability.

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 31, 2020

A "mission government" as quickly as possible 

Then he called for the establishment of a "mission government" as soon as possible.

"I saw that a process had started in recent hours which has allowed a figure to emerge as Prime Minister. It is not for me to approve or to dub it (...) but to make sure that it is indeed a mission government that will be formed as quickly as possible to implement the reforms, "said Mr. Macron at Beirut airport, where he was greeted by his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Aoun. 

While the formation of governments generally requires several months of negotiations between the different political formations and religious components of Lebanon, the new Prime Minister Mustapha Adib announced on Monday that he wanted to quickly form a government of experts and promised to initiate reforms. immediately to lay the groundwork for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"The window of opportunity for our country is narrow and the mission that I have accepted is based on the fact that all political forces are aware of it", he declared after being officially charged by Michel Aoun to train a new government.

This voluntarism should be favorably received by the French president.

Emmanuel Macron's mediation 

The first foreign head of state to visit the disaster-stricken capital, two days after the explosion, Emmanuel Macron pleaded in early August for reforms intended to strengthen the fight against corruption and reduce public spending.

According to senior Lebanese officials, Emmanuel Macron's mediation was crucial in choosing Mustapha Adib as prime minister, as talks stalled last week.

The previous government, led by Hassan Diab, resigned on August 10, six days after the explosion.

France, which administered Lebanon during the interwar period, is very committed to helping the country emerge from the crisis.

Paris hosted a donors' conference two years ago.

More than 11 billion dollars had then been pledged by donors, on condition that the country, which began discussions with the IMF last May, initiates reforms which have still not been implemented.

 With AFP and Reuters 

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