French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday that Lebanon risked disappearing due to the inaction of its political elite who needed to quickly implement crucial reforms under a new government.
"The international community will not sign a blank cheque if the they (Lebanese authorities) don't put in place the reforms. They must do it quickly... because the risk today is the disappearance of Lebanon," Le Drian told RTL radio.
France has been leading diplomatic efforts for almost two years to persuade Lebanon to push through reforms and secure foreign aid needed to offset a financial meltdown.
In the immediate aftermath of Beirut Port’s Aug. 4 blast that destroyed whole neighborhoods, killed more than 180 people and made 250,000 homeless, President Emmanuel Macron rushed to the Lebanese capital hoping to use the leverage of international reconstruction aid to persuade Lebanon's factions to choose a new administration led by individuals untainted by corruption and backed by foreign donors.
However, progress has been slow with some diplomats increasingly frustrated over the situation.
Macron will return to Beirut on Sept. 1.
"It's for the Lebanese authorities to assume their responsibilities. They are trained and competent, but they have made a consensus among themselves for inaction and that's no longer possible. The president told them that when he went on Aug. 6 and will repeat it when he is in Beirut on Tuesday," Le Drian said.
Macron departs in a bid to boost the reconstruction effort but also to look at political issues as Lebanon searches for a new government, the French presidency said.
Premier Hassan Diab's cabinet has resigned over the blast, which was blamed on a store of ammonium nitrate left for years in a port warehouse despite warnings.
