Issued on: 23/07/2020 – 10:33
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met with Lebanon's president on Thursday at the start of his two-day visit to the Mediterranean country that is witnessing the worst economic crisis of its modern history.
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Le Drian is the first Western official to visit Lebanon since the crisis, which has been unfolding since last year and has deepened since the government defaulted on its debt, the onset of coronavirus restrictions and stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund over an economic rescue plan.
Le Drian had appealed to Lebanese officials to carry out needed reforms, calling on them “to help us help you" during a recent session in France's Parliament.
France, the former colonial power in Lebanon, is also the leading Western nation involved in planning efforts to help the Lebanese economy out of its dire straits.
Lebanon witnessed nationwide protests in October last year after the government, as part of efforts to introduce austerity measures, levied new taxes on messaging service WhatsApp. Protesters accused the government of mismanagement and years of corruption and eventually forced the incumbent prime minister, Saad Hariri, to resign.
A new government, backed by the powerful Hezbollah group and its allies, was formed in January and has since been embattled by domestic rivals and economic power centers on ways to proceed with reform and the IMF talks. Adding to the domestic tension is the fact that Hezbollah is facing increased U.S. sanctions, part of the U.S.'s campaign against Iran and itsRead More – Source
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