Emmanuel Macron assured Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, received on Friday in Paris, of “France’s commitment to do everything in its power to prevent the increase in violence between Lebanon and Israel,” Elysium reported.
The French president, who also met with the head of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun, “expressed his determination to continue providing the Lebanese Armed Forces with the support they need,” his services added in a statement.
According to the presidency, Emmanuel Macron “continues to act for the stability of Lebanon so that it is protected from the risks linked to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.” “In this context, he recalled the French commitment within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and underlined the responsibility of all towards it, so that he can fully exercise his responsibilities.”
“France will act in this regard with all those who are willing to get more involved, in particular with its European partners, following the conclusions of the extraordinary European Council” that was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels, according to this statement.
Call to get out of the “institutional crisis” that Lebanon is experiencing
The Head of State, who also spoke by telephone with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Nabih Berri, once again asked “political leaders to finally find a way out of the institutional crisis that weakens Lebanon.”
Since the end of the term of President Michel Aoun (no family link to Joseph Aoun) on October 31, 2022, Lebanese deputies have been unable to agree on the appointment of a successor, with Parliament divided between the camp of the pro-Islamist movement . Iranian Hezbollah and its adversaries.
Najib Mikati, at the head of a resigned government with reduced powers, de facto leads a Lebanon that fears being drawn into a full-scale conflict with Israel.
Emmanuel Macron is expected to meet soon with other Lebanese political players, a sign, according to Paris, that he has decided to personally reinvest in Lebanon’s crisis. He asked his personal envoy, former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, “to continue his efforts.”
Source: BFM TV
