Aoun to Riester: Lebanon Grateful for French Aid, Needs Capable Govt., Audit

President Michel Aoun affirmed during his meeting with visiting French Foreign Trade Minister Franck Riester, Tuesday afternoon, that Lebanon is grateful for the “efforts” and “initiatives” made by French President Emmanuel Macron to support and “help the country out of its current crisis.”

The President thanked Macron for “his constant interest in Lebanon” and added that "the Lebanese are thankful for Macron's initiatives in the conferences that have been held and will be held to support Lebanon, including the conference scheduled for the beginning of the upcoming month.”

Aoun demonstrated to the French minister the current political situation and the difficulties facing the new government formation, stressing on "the need for a government capable of making the necessary reforms and uncovering the facts that led to the crisis."

Aoun considered that "the forensic financial audit of the Banque du Liban’s financial accounts is an essential starting point in the reform process,” and declared “all support for this audit” that both the International Monetary Fund and the French initiative had requested.

The French minister for his part explained to Aoun the objectives of his visit to Beirut and that he is seeking “to follow up on the French aid to Lebanon, especially after Beirut’s Port explosion."

The meeting was held in the presence of French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo and the accompanying delegation.