UNITED NATIONS — Lebanese President Michel Aoun on
Friday called for
financial assistance to help his country after the formation
of a new government ended a 13-month political crisis.
اضافة اعلان
"We are now counting on the international community to
fund vital projects in the public and private sectors to revive economic
life," he said in a pre-recorded video address to the General Assembly in
New York.
The speech came as French President Emmanuel Macron urged
new Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to undertake "urgent"
reforms to help the crisis-wracked country, as the two men met for the first
time in Paris.
Mikati told Macron that he was determined to implement
reforms "as soon as possible."
Lebanon's new administration will have to quickly reach an
agreement with the International Monetary Fund, as it tries to find a way out
of its economic crisis, which the World Bank has described as the worst in the
world since 1850.
Lebanon is facing rampant inflation and rationing,
especially of electricity and fuel, which is paralyzing daily life.
Many Lebanese accuse the political class, considered corrupt
and incompetent, of being responsible for the
financial collapse.
President Aoun conceded that a "rentier system",
"waste and corruption," that had "aggravated by
mismanagement" had "tipped Lebanon into an unprecedented
crisis."
He also lamented that the 1.5 million Syrian refugees who
fled the civil war to Lebanon had not been encouraged to return home.
"I have asked the international community on multiple
occasions to help us ensure the safe return of displaced Syrians to their
homes," he said. "Unfortunately no one heard me."
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