Foreign
France to host aid conference on Lebanon after Hariri resignation
France to host another aid conference on Lebanon on Aug. 4, following prime minister-designate, Saad Hariri’s resignation.
French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian made this known during a press conference on Friday, in Paris.
Hariri resigned on Thursday, after he failed to form a government for nearly nine months.
Le Drian said the meeting was to support Lebanon’s civilian population.
“As a former colonial power, France still has close relations with Lebanon and has organised two aid conferences for the country in the past.
“This latest development confirms the political deadlock in which Lebanese leaders have deliberately kept the country for months.
“The parliamentary consultations are to determine a new prime minister to start immediately,’’ the French foreign minister said.
Hariri announced his decision after meeting President Michel Aoun, saying they had failed to reach an agreement on his proposed government line-up.
Hariri was picked to form the government, after the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, following a deadly explosion in Beirut’s port on Aug. 4, 2020.
France, like Germany and other western countries, do not want to support the Lebanese government until it has introduced credible reforms.
Lebanon’s political elite faces allegations of massive corruption and recently, international pressure to form a government has increased.
The European Union has threatened to impose sanctions on those responsible for the political crisis in Lebanon if necessary.
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