The United Nations has called for the formation of a fully empowered Lebanese government that can put the country on the path to recovery.

This came in a press conference held yesterday, Friday, by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, via a teleconference with journalists at the headquarters of the International Organization in New York.

Haq said that the UN's invitation came from the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna and Ronika, during a closed consultation session of the UN Security Council held on Thursday, which was attended by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

He added that Wronica highlighted in her testimony the multiple social, economic, financial and political difficulties accumulating in the country and their impact on the people, and renewed calls by the United Nations to form a government with full powers that can put the country on the path to recovery.

Haq indicated that the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit the Middle East from 25-30 July.

The Spokesman explained that during his visit to Lebanon and Israel, Lacroix will hold meetings with government officials and key stakeholders to discuss the operations of the international peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Differences between President Michel Aoun (left) and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri prevented the formation of the new government (Reuters)

And Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced about two weeks ago from the presidential palace his apology for forming a new government, 9 months after he was named, in a move that would deepen the suffering of the country mired in its worst economic crisis.

The declared dispute between President Michel Aoun and Hariri prevented the formation of the succession of the existing caretaker government headed by Hassan Diab, which resigned on August 10, 2020, 6 days after a catastrophic explosion in the port of Beirut that killed more than 200 people and caused the destruction of neighborhoods. from the capital.

The European Union foreign ministers announced a few days ago their intention to impose sanctions on the leaders of Lebanese officials because of the disruption before the end of this month.

Since late 2019, Lebanon has been under the weight of the worst economic crisis in its modern history, which has led to a financial collapse and a deterioration in the purchasing power of most of its residents, as well as a shortage of fuel and medicines, and a rise in food prices.

For more than two months, Lebanon has been suffering from a severe shortage of fuel intended for power generation, due to the lack of foreign exchange to import from abroad, which has caused an increase in the hours of power outages of about 20 hours a day.