France is ready to help Lebanon resolve the economic crisis as soon as the Lebanese government carries out the necessary reforms, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said at a press conference at the Lebanese Foreign Ministry in Beirut.
Le Drian arrived in Beirut on an official visit Wednesday evening. On Thursday, a meeting was held with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, during which Le Drian conveyed an oral message from the French leader confirming Paris’ readiness to help Beirut in a difficult economic situation.
“France will always be on the side of Lebanon, but to realize their intentions, the Lebanese authorities must do their part, help yourself so that we can help you”, – Le Drian said.
The French minister also announced his country’s decision to continue to provide assistance to the Lebanese armed forces and security services, noting the importance of the control of the entire country by the Lebanese authorities.
Speaking about humanitarian aid, Le Drian noted that “direct humanitarian aid to Lebanon will be transferred in the amount of 50 million euros. We will support the health infrastructure, but the authorities are required to provide a network of medical assistance and public support in health matters, which is currently lacking”, he added.
According to the head of the French Foreign Ministry, the calls of the Lebanese population at numerous mass demonstrations demanding to fight corruption and carry out transparent reforms have not yet been heard by the authorities.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Nasif Kheti, in turn, told the reporters during a press conference about the need for prompt action on the part of the Lebanese government in carrying out reforms and taking measures to implement assistance at the Cedar conference.
The international conference in support of the Lebanese economy “Cedar” was held in Paris in April 2018. The participating countries decided to provide the republic with several loans at low interest rates. In total, Lebanon was to receive almost $ 12 billion over several years, including $ 4 billion from the World Bank for a period of five years.
“The visit is connected with France’s commitment to support Lebanon and help overcome the challenges that it faces. However, initially overcoming the crisis is the responsibility of Lebanon itself, and it is important in this regard to implement reforms”, – said Kheti.