Friendship. The term invariably comes back to the evocation of the Franco-Lebanese relationship. The Prime Minister, Jean Castex, said it this way, when he promised that France would be at the rendezvous "of the solidarity and friendship that it has maintained with the Lebanese people for decades". Like the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian: “It is in hardship that friends are there and we are there. "
"There", Emmanuel Macron will be in person, this Thursday, August 6. After the gigantic explosions that hit Beirut on Tuesday, the President of the Republic decided to go there to meet his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Hassan Diab. “Demonstration, emphasizes those around him, of the special bond which has always united France to Lebanon”.
A "privileged link", political but also "emotional"
"We have this privileged link which is not only political, but also emotional," observes the PS deputy Boris Vallaud, who himself nurtures "a somewhat personal relationship" in the country of the Cedar to be born there. Witness the allegory of the "tender mother", an expression used there to describe France. "His sister," writes LREM deputy Hugues Renson on Twitter. "It is a deep and lasting friendship, which goes beyond the simple diplomatic framework", estimates the Parisian parliamentarian, who remembers that "in 2005, at the time of the assassination of Rafic Hariri, Jacques Chirac had decided to surrender immediately on site and had been welcomed at Place des Martyrs by Vive la France ”.
The terrifying explosion which has just ravaged Beirut tears my heart.
Thoughts and solidarity with our Lebanese friends and brothers.
France is and will be present at your side.
Between the two countries, the links are historical, old. They date back to the post-World War I French mandate, to the creation of the modern Lebanese state. And even beyond. Even today, they remain strong in economic, political and cultural matters. A sign, the France-Lebanon friendship group is one of the most important in the National Assembly.
It is also said of the Hexagon that it is the “second homeland” of the Lebanese. As Boris Vallaud sums it up, “we all know Lebanese in France”. A community that the embassy estimates between 120,000 to 200,000 people. Language is not for nothing in this proximity. Lebanon, underlines Loïc Kervran, LREM deputy for Cher and president of the Assembly's friendship group, is the “largest network of French-speaking schools” in the world, with some fifty schools and 60,000 students.
A demanding friendship
"Relations between France and Lebanon are as much of history as of current affairs", insists Kervran, recalling in passing that after the election of Emmanuel Macron, "the first leader received by France within the framework of of a state visit was General Aoun ”, on September 25, 2017. The Head of State was also largely involved in ensuring that the former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who was feared to be detained by the Saudis could leave Saudi Arabia during the diplomatic crisis between Beirut, Riyadh and Paris in the fall of 2017. Then, underlines again the deputy LREM, “France took the leadership on the international donors of Lebanon” to try to leave the countries of the net in 2018. Several billion euros were to be released against institutional reforms, which never took place.
VIDEO. Lebanon: two strong explosions shake Beirut, dead and thousands injured
Friendship, but also… “requirement”, recommends Boris Vallaud. “We need to be sure that the Lebanese benefit in their daily life from the solidarity to which they are entitled. They must see their life change for the better, ”explains the vice-president of the France-Lebanon friendship group to the Assembly.
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers. Learn more
At the beginning of July, Jean-Yves Le Drian did not mince his words, urging the Lebanese authorities from the Senate chamber in these terms: “Today, there is a risk of collapse. The Lebanese authorities need to get their act together and let me say here to our Lebanese friends: Really, we are ready to help you, but help us to help you, damn it! "
"The time of reconstruction" then "explanations"
For now, judge the head of French diplomacy, the time is first to "heal the wounds". This Wednesday afternoon, a meeting was held in Matignon, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Jean-Castex, with the ministers concerned in order to “coordinate” the sending of relief and materials to Beirut.
Le Drian also indicated that Paris would take “initiatives in the coming days” in order to mobilize the necessary international aid, particularly at the European level. "Then the time will come for reconstruction and no doubt the time for explanations," said the head of diplomacy.
For Nadim Houry, executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative think-tank, Paris will have a leading role to play in this area: "Members of the international community, led by countries like France, must facilitate the political transition. and peaceful that Lebanon needs. "