French President Emmanuel Macron will receive Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday to discuss “humanitarian support for displaced populations and the pursuit of essential economic and financial reforms necessary for the consolidation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, its reconstruction, and the restoration of its prosperity.”
The visit comes as the situation in Lebanon remains very unstable, with a fragile ceasefire in effect. The Elysee Palace emphasized that “This visit will be an opportunity for the head of state to reaffirm his commitment to full respect for the ceasefire in Lebanon, France’s support for the country’s territorial integrity and the actions taken by the Lebanese state to ensure the country’s full and complete sovereignty and the monopoly of arms.”
The two leaders will also address “humanitarian support for displaced populations and the pursuit of essential economic and financial reforms necessary for the consolidation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, its reconstruction, and the restoration of its prosperity.” Nawaf Salam’s visit follows the death of a French UN peacekeeper on Saturday in an ambush attributed to Hezbollah, which also resulted in three injuries.
Denouncing an “unacceptable attack,” the head of state will “call on the Lebanese authorities to shed light on it, identify and promptly pursue those responsible.” The Elysee stressed that “UNIFIL soldiers, who carry out their missions in difficult conditions and support the delivery of humanitarian aid to southern Lebanon, should not under any circumstances be targeted.”
