Report: Duquesne to Visit Beirut Again, Europeans 'Pessimistic' Lebanon Capable of Reforms
Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate for the Mediterranean who is in charge of following up on the implementation of the CEDRE conference resolutions, is expected to visit Beirut again before the end of March, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.
His visit aims to “identify the Lebanese seriousness to implement the CEDRE recommended reforms,” said the daily.
Duquesne was in Lebanon last week where he stressed at meetings with senior Lebanese officials that France “must notice a desire from the Lebanese to start the reforms recommended by the CEDRE conference within two week.”
He urged the Lebanese government to “devise a specific program for implementing CEDRE's terms,” noting that the “donors are especially focusing on the issue of reforms and confronting corruption.”
The Paris-sponsored CEDRE support conference was held on April 6 and presented long-term economic developments projects for Lebanon.
Al-Joumhouria daily said that “pessimistic European signals on the implementation of CEDRE continue to follow, and reflect a clear skepticism of the seriousness of the Lebanese side to fulfill what was committed at the Paris conference.”
According to unnamed sources, Dutch diplomats have reportedly confirmed that the “Lebanese are not serious about reforms because the same old crew of politicians are still in power and will cook the same dish,” they said. They stressed that CEDRE “will not offer anything before Lebanon improves itself.”
Moreover, the daily referred to the latest visit of German Deputy Foreign Minister Niels Annen to Lebanon, saying “it comes in the context of urging the Lebanese officials to seriously engage in preparations to translate the conference reforms.”
It said the “Germans, like all Europeans, doubt the Lebanese government’s seriousness in paving the way for implementation of the CEDRE pledges.”
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/257320 |