France is continuing its commitment to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon.

The government said it was ready, Friday, July 30, to increase "pressure" on Lebanese political leaders to obtain the formation of a government, after the appointment of Najib Mikati as new prime minister.

"It stands ready to increase, with its European and international partners, the pressure on Lebanese political leaders to achieve this," said the spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry.

"The urgent formation of a fully operational government, able to launch the reforms that the situation requires and which condition any structural aid, remains the priority," Agnès von der Mühll underlined during an electronic press briefing.

The new Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday promised to form a new government as soon as possible in a country in the midst of economic collapse.

With an estimated fortune of $ 2.7 billion, according to Forbes magazine, Najib Mikati, a 65-year-old businessman, is however seen by many in Lebanon as one of the symbols of a power accused of corruption and nepotism, and is suspected of illicit enrichment.

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New international conference on August 4

Lebanon has been run for nearly a year by the government of Hassan Diab, responsible for day-to-day affairs after resigning in the wake of the gigantic double explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, which killed more than 200 people and fueled the anger of the streets against the ruling class.

The institutional vacuum has so far hampered any possible financial bailout for the country, which defaulted on its debt in March 2020 and has since sunk into what the World Bank calls one of the world's most serious crises since 1850.

French President Emmanuel Macron got personally involved in trying to convince Lebanese political leaders to overcome their differences and personal interests and lead to the formation of a government. 

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France has already restricted the access to French territory of several Lebanese personalities considered responsible for the political blockage, without however revealing which ones.

The head of French diplomacy regularly evokes, including at European level and jointly with the United States, the possibility of sanctions.

"In the meantime, to meet the needs of the Lebanese whose situation is deteriorating every day, a new international conference in support of the Lebanese population will be organized on August 4" at the initiative of France, recalled the spokesperson. .

EU lends to targeted sanctions

For its part, the European Union announced on Friday that it was in a position to impose targeted sanctions against the Lebanese leaders, responsible for the political deadlock, in order to help form a government and adopt reforms to exit. the land of deadlock.

EU foreign ministers at their last meeting on July 12 called for the establishment of a legal framework for these sanctions, which was approved on Friday, according to a statement.

The list of people and entities that will be sanctioned has yet to be unanimously agreed by the EU27.

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This legal framework "gives the possibility of imposing sanctions against persons and entities which are responsible for attacking democracy or the rule of law in Lebanon," the statement said.

The next meeting of EU foreign ministers is scheduled for September 21.

European sanctions consist of a travel ban in the EU and an asset freeze for individuals as well as entities.

In addition, EU individuals and entities are prohibited from making funds available to listed individuals.

The EU is also empowering itself to sanction those guilty of "undermining the implementation of plans approved by the Lebanese authorities and supported by relevant international actors, including the EU, to improve accountability and good governance in the public sector or the implementation of essential economic reforms, "the statement said.

With AFP

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