Macron calls for "moving quickly and effectively" to provide support to Lebanon
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for "moving quickly and effectively" to ensure that aid reaches "directly" the Lebanese people, in an international video conference in support of Lebanon five days after the huge explosion that rocked Beirut.
At the start of the conference, Macron said that Beirut was hit in the heart as a result of the explosion that occurred at its port five days ago.
Macron also urged the Lebanese authorities to "take action to spare the country from drowning and to respond to the aspirations that the Lebanese people are now legitimately expressing in the streets of Beirut."
Macron added, "But today, those who benefit from this division and chaos are the forces that want, in one way or another, to harm the Lebanese people."
Macron opened from his summer residence in Briggson in southern France this conference, which is jointly organized by Paris and the United Nations, and includes dozens of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
According to Macron, he aims to stand "with Beirut and the Lebanese people" who "mourn their dead, express their anger, and want to rise by themselves" after the explosion that destroyed the port of the Lebanese capital and parts of it on Tuesday.
He also said, "At these moments, ... the future of Lebanon is at stake," calling again for a "neutral, reliable and independent investigation into the causes of the August 4 disaster."
He added that the disaster "was like a thunderbolt." But it's time to get up and work. The Lebanese authorities must now implement political and economic reforms demanded by the Lebanese people, and they alone will allow the international community to work effectively alongside Lebanon for the sake of reconstruction.
The French president stressed the need for the international community to be "united" despite the "geopolitical circumstances" surrounding Lebanon.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the availability of international partners to provide large emergency aid to Lebanon.
According to statements by the Elysee Palace, the conference is attended by representatives of at least 36 countries and organizations.
Macron saluted Trump personally at the hypothetical conference organized by France and the United Nations.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will represent his country at this conference, according to statements issued by the French side.
Macron said that the important thing is to provide medical aid, food and rapid reconstruction of schools and hospitals, noting that "many schools have been destroyed," according to a recording broadcast by the (PFMTV) station.
Macron called on officials in Beirut to respond to the hopes expressed by the Lebanese in the streets, "The Lebanese people are free, proud and independent."
Macron called for doing everything necessary to avoid violence and chaos, indicating that these hours will determine the future of the country torn apart by crises.
In the recording broadcast by (PFMTV), Macron spoke indefinitely about "forces" that have an interest in division and chaos in Lebanon.
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