In March, General Joseph Aoun, head of the Lebanese army, broke with his duty of reserve and questioned the leaders of the Cedar country in unusually abrupt terms. ” Where are we going ? What are you waiting for? What do you think you will do ? “, said the senior officer. A reference to the economic tornado sweeping through Lebanon and to the apathy of the political class, unable to agree on the formation of a new government, to replace Hassan Diab’s cabinet, driven to resign by the explosion at the Port of Beirut, August 4, 2020.
“Just like the people, the soldiers suffer and are hungry, added General Aoun, warning against a situation “Explosive”, due to the fall of the national currency and the hyperinflation raging in the country.
Three months later, the response of Lebanese officials to this rant is still pending. The bickering between parties continues to prevent the constitution of a new executive, increasing every day poverty, which now affects more than half of the population.
The French authorities have decided to come to the aid of General Aoun. Paris organized an international videoconference on Thursday 17 June in support of the Lebanese army, a “Pillar institution, which prevents the security situation in the country from deteriorating sharply”, we explained to the office of the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, the day before the opening.
“Monitoring mechanism”
About twenty countries attended this meeting, in particular members of the international support group in Lebanon, which includes in addition to France, the United States, Russia, China, Germany, Italy and the Gulf States. . The event aimed to define the contours of emergency aid, in order to meet precisely identified needs: food rations, medicines, fuel, lubricant, spare parts for vehicles, such as tires. , batteries, etc. The amount of the contributions finally promised was not communicated. Ms. Parly’s entourage mentioned before the conference a help from “A few tens of millions of euros”.
These resources will not be used to provide the Lebanese army with additional materials and equipment, as has been the case in the past, nor to pay the pay or retirement of the country’s 80,000 soldiers. The international community makes all budgetary or long-term support for the Cedar country conditional on the adoption of a plan to consolidate its banking sector and the implementation of governance reforms.
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