INTERVIEW
More than 24 hours after the double explosion that ravaged downtown Beirut, Emmanuel Macron is expected this Thursday in Lebanon, around noon. There, the situation is still chaotic. At least 113 people have died and more than 4,000 injured according to a latest provisional toll. The President of the Republic will meet the main political leaders and will visit the scene of the explosion. "A sign of a fraternal and exceptional presence", greeted on Europe 1 the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Charbel Wehbé.
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"A dialogue between families"
"It is a sign of a completely fraternal and exceptional presence which has linked Lebanon and France for centuries", underlines the Minister. "Every time that Lebanon suffers, it is France that bleeds. Every time that France suffers, it is Lebanon that weeps." His French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, also expected in the Lebanese capital, reaffirmed the solidarity between the two countries on Wednesday. "France is the family of Lebanon," he said.
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"We see things as a dialogue between families. France has always been alongside Lebanon," greets Charbel Whebé. "Once again, President Emmanuel Macron has responded to this call on his own initiative." Three planes took off Wednesday from Marseille and Paris loaded with emergency medical equipment and civil security teams, in order to come to the aid of local rescuers.
A traditional ally of Lebanon, Paris intends to play a leading role with "initiatives in the days to come" in order to mobilize the necessary international aid, especially at European level, added the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.