Aoun Says International Pledges for Lebanon Must Be Put into Action
President Michel Aoun said during a meeting with Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, that aid promises made by the international community “must be put into practical steps,” the Presidency media office said.
Aoun called for “turning the promises made by the international community into practical steps to be translated at the Cedre Conference (ParisIV) on April 6.”
He was referring to the international community's significant financial and political commitments to address the massive scale of a refugee crisis, and an upcoming conference in Paris set to boost investments and finances for Lebanon.
Aoun has also told Hahn that the European countries “must open their markets for Lebanese exports which conform to European standards and specifications, to strengthen the partnership agreement between Lebanon and EU countries according to the priorities set.”
He said Lebanon has launched a package of reform projects and strengthened anti-corruption measures, and has also approved the Public-Private Partnership Law to stimulate productive economy.
The President described the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon “as an existential threat, especially that Lebanon can no longer afford to keep them for indefinite periods due to the security, economic, social and health consequences due to their presence.”
He considered the “return of the displaced to the safe places in Syria, if only gradually, is an urgent need, because it is not possible to wait for the completion of a political solution in Syria to achieve this.”
For his part, Hahn said : “The EU stands by Lebanon and continues to provide the necessary support in all areas, especially supporting the Lebanese position on the principle of dissociation policy.”
He pointed out that the “ EU is actively participating in the international conferences to be held in Paris and Brussels.”
Source: Naharnet
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