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Lebanese president's visit to France marks key step in political and economic reconstruction
Lebanese President Michel Aoun is visiting France, his first trip to Europe since taking office. During his visit, he is set to meet President Emmanuel Macron, who had previously expressed France's commitment to supporting Lebanon's recovery after the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Macron had announced intentions to host an international aid conference to assist in Lebanon's reconstruction, though a date for this event has not been confirmed.
Aoun's election as president, following more than two years of vacancy in the role, marked a resolution to the political deadlock in Lebanon. His election, under international pressure including from France, was followed by the formation of a new government led by reformist Premier Nawaf Salam in February, bringing an end to a long-standing political impasse.
These advancements came after Hezbollah, the Iran-backed political group, suffered significant setbacks in the war. Lebanon's new leaders are now tasked with rebuilding the country and overseeing Hezbollah's disarmament, particularly in southern Lebanon. Additionally, they must implement crucial reforms demanded by the international community to unlock financial aid, amid an ongoing five-year economic crisis rooted in mismanagement and corruption.
Karim Bitar, a Middle East expert at Sciences-Po University in Paris, emphasized the symbolic importance of Aoun's visit to France. He noted that Paris, alongside Washington and Riyadh, was a major force behind Aoun's election. This trip also aims to reaffirm France's "traditional role" in rallying support for Lebanon at donor conferences.
During the visit, Aoun assured French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian that both he and the new government are determined to tackle the difficulties ahead, especially in economic, banking, finance, and judicial reforms. However, Bitar warned that the challenges ahead remain substantial, with entrenched political and economic interests still resisting change. These groups, he argued, are actively working to preserve the old system that has been in place since Lebanon's civil war, hindering any meaningful reforms or agreements with international bodies like the IMF.
Bitar also expressed concerns over Hezbollah's readiness to disarm. Under a ceasefire agreed upon in late November, Hezbollah was supposed to withdraw its forces from areas near the Israeli border. The Lebanese army was to replace them, and any remaining Hezbollah military infrastructure was to be dismantled. Despite international monitoring by France, Hezbollah's disarmament remains uncertain, and Israel continues to target what it claims are Hezbollah positions near the border.
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