Exactly two years ago, on August 4, 2020, a double explosion destroyed the port of Beirut and leveled entire neighborhoods, killing more than 200 people and injuring more than 6,500. Two days later, Emmanuel Macron went there. The head of state was at the forefront of a movement whose goal was to get Lebanon back on track.
Now that the country is mired in the worst economic crisis in its history and people are suffering shortages, power cuts and rampant inflation, Emmanuel Macron gave an interview to the daily The East-The day.
“What would today be without the mobilization led by France?”
Referring to the memories of 2020, Emmanuel Macron explains that his two successive visits to Beirut after the double explosion in the port are “moments that we do not forget in the life of a President of the Republic”.
“It is with great emotion that I remember the astonishment that overwhelmed me two years ago when I found out about this tragedy,” he said in this interview.
The Head of State is pleased to have and always devote a lot of energy to Lebanon. “France has staged an exceptional and unprecedented international mobilization to prevent the brutal institutional, financial, economic, social and cultural collapse of the country,” continues the man who initiated several conferences in support of the Lebanese population.
“It is not enough and we have to do more and better, but what would today be without the mobilization of the international community led by France?”
“Justice must be done”
In this interview given two years after the tragedy, Emmanuel Macron takes a hard line on the Lebanese ruling class. He accuses him in particular of being responsible for the blockades that hinder the economic recovery of the country, but also for the investigation of the explosion.
“It is a fact, we have not managed to overcome the force of inertia of the Lebanese system and its actors. I do not want to retract his responsibility, it is known ”, he lashed out.
The French president effectively denounces the suspension of the national investigation due to another appeal by the former Lebanese ministers. “I say it again today with force: justice must be done,” said Emmanuel Macron.
This Wednesday, independent experts from the United Nations and NGOs called for the opening of an international investigation “without delay”, stressing that it was “clearer today than ever that the national investigation cannot do justice.”
“I will never give up”
While recently hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Elysee Palace, Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to restore “close relations” between Beirut and the Gulf monarchies, without which Lebanon “will not know prosperity or growth.” “.
“I will never give up. I will not let Lebanon collapse, much less disappear”, concludes the head of state.
Source: BFM TV
