Macron Vows Economic Support for Lebanon in Talks with Hariri
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Friday that France will continue to stand by Lebanon following talks in Paris with Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
“France will continue to stand by Lebanon and this will be reflected in the economic ties between the two nations,” said Macron at a joint press conference with Hariri.
“The visit signals the strong relation between our two countries. There are issues that we want to reinforce, especially amid the difficult situation that Lebanon is facing. We will continue to stand by Lebanon and we will follow up on the various issues during President Michel Aoun’s visit to Paris in a few weeks,” the French leader added.
“We want to encourage the reinforcement of the Lebanese state and its institutions and we will lead our bilateral cooperation within this spirit,” Macron went on to say.
Referring to the Lebanese army’s latest operation against Islamic State militants on the eastern border, the French president saluted the armed forces for “their constant efforts to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese border.”
“I assert France’s full support for the UNIFIL forces and we will carry on with our military and security cooperation” with Lebanon, Macron added.
As for the burden of the Syrian refugee crisis on Lebanon, France’s leader said “Lebanon will remain the first recipient of French aid related to the Syrian crisis given the burden it is shouldering.”
Macron also said he hoped to organize an international conference early next year in Beirut on facilitating the return of Syrian refugees, saying this was crucial for "stabilizing Syria and the entire region."
Lebanon currently hosts more than 1.2 million Syrian refugees.
Hariri for his part thanked France for its support for the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate, the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Lebanese army.
“The issue of refugees is very difficult for Lebanon and it is posing a major burden to the Lebanese economy, security and environment,” the PM added.
“We must strengthen the relation (between Lebanon and France) in all fields,” Hariri went on to say.
The premier had started his official visit to France on Thursday with meetings with his French counterpart and the ministers of foreign affairs, economy, finance and European affairs.