2024-04-20 01:36:23
French President Emmanuel Macron recommitted Friday to doing everything in his power to “prevent the escalation of violence between Lebanon and Israel,” calling on Lebanese leaders to resolve the institutional crisis witnessed by them. country.
Macron intensified his contacts, receiving at the Elysée the interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati, as well as the commander of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun. The latter also participated in a meeting in Paris with his French and Italian counterparts, whose countries are major contributors to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The army plays a crucial role in maintaining Lebanon’s stability. Joseph Aoun maintains good relations with most parties and is sometimes presented as a figure capable of resolving the political crisis the country is going through, according to Agence France-Presse.
Likewise, Macron spoke by telephone with the President of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, who also plays a major role in the political crisis scene, because it is he who can call on the deputies to elect a new leader. ‘State, which they have not been able to do since the end of the mandate on October 31, 2022. President Michel Aoun.
On Friday, Macron affirmed to Mikati during his reception in Paris, “France’s commitment to doing everything in its power to avoid the escalation of violence between Lebanon and Israel”, according to the Elysée.
The French presidency added in a statement that Macron “confirmed his intention to continue providing the necessary support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
She continued: “Macron continues to act for the stability of Lebanon so that it is protected from the dangers linked to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. In this context, he recalled the French commitment within the framework of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and underlined everyone’s responsibility towards it so that it can fully exercise its responsibilities.
The press release also specifies that “France will move forward in this direction with all those who are ready to participate more, in particular its European partners, in accordance with what was achieved by the Emergency European Council” which was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels. .
Macron also spoke by telephone with Berri and reiterated his call to “political leaders to find a solution to the institutional crisis which is weakening Lebanon.”
3 main files
Lebanon’s interim Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, said on Friday that he had discussed with Macron the situation in the south, the issue of displaced people and presidential rights.
Mikati added, in a press release published by his office on the “X” platform, after the meeting with Macron, that the discussions which took place at the Elysée touched in particular on the question of displaced Syrians.
He continued: “I explained to President Macron the dangers that the large number of displaced people represent for Lebanon. I renewed the demand that the international community fulfill its duty to resolve this dilemma, the repercussions of which are will extend in particular to Europe.
Mikati added: “I hoped that President Macron would raise the issue of declaring safe zones in Syria with the European Union in order to facilitate the process of returning displaced people to their countries and to support them internationally and European in Syria, and not in Lebanon. »
The statement said that the French side promised to help resolve this issue at the European Union level.
Regarding the presidential file, Mikati said: “I reiterated that the solution to the crises in Lebanon is to elect a new president to complete the constitutional institutions and begin to implement the necessary reforms.”
1713581279
#Macron #confirms #efforts #avoid #escalation #violence #Lebanon #Israel