Lebanon - Q&A from the press briefing (11 September 2020)

Q: Did France have any advanced warning of the U.S. sanctions against Lebanese politicians and do you think that these sanctions are positive or negative in terms of establishing a new government in Lebanon?

A: As President Macron and the minister for Europe and foreign affairs have stated on several occasions, the priority today in Lebanon is the formation of a mission government that is able to carry out the reforms that are critical to the country’s stability and prosperity.

Lebanon’s political forces have, without exception, all pledged to support this process. It is now up to them to implement all of the commitments they have made. As President Macron underscored in Beirut, this process is first and foremost a process of confidence-building, reciprocal commitments and obligations. France currently supports this approach.