“Lebanese leaders are responsible for the truth, for transparency, towards their people. Emmanuel Macron did not spare the Lebanese authorities on Wednesday, a year after the explosion in the port of Beirut. Ranked among the largest non-nuclear explosions, the catastrophe killed 200 people, disfigured part of the capital and permanently traumatized the Lebanese.
From the Fort of Brégançon (Var), the French president opened with a speech, on video, the international conference in support of the Lebanese population, gathered under his aegis, that of the UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, representatives of around forty states and international organizations since noon, in Paris and from afar.
“France and several other (countries) have cooperated to provide all the information at our disposal, we are available for all technical cooperation” that would still be necessary in this investigation, said Emmanuel Macron. His conclusions are “expected by the entire Lebanese population,” he stressed.
As Lebanon plunges into the worst economic and political crisis in its history, Emmanuel Macron regretted that “Lebanese leaders seem to be betting on rot,” said Emmanuel Macron, who accuses them of blocking, for months, the formation of the government and the implementation . of reforms. “I think it is a historical and moral failure,” he continues. “They must not doubt for a single second of our determination,” he added, recalling the “restrictive measures” already taken against them and “the sanctions regime” established by the EU on Friday. “” The crisis in Lebanon is not a stroke of fate or a fatality. It is the result of individual and collective bankruptcies and unjustifiable dysfunctions, ”he said.
France will bring to Lebanon in 12 months 100 million euros of “new commitments, in direct support to the population” and will send 500,000 doses of vaccine against Covid-19 from August, announced Emmanuel Macron. This assistance will be related in particular to education, food needs and agriculture, announced the Head of State.