Beirut welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron, UNSC urges quick formation of government

On the morning of January 17, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beirut to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister -designate Nawaf Salam.

French President Emmanuel Macron visits Lebanon for the first time since 2020. (Source: Anadolu)

According to AFP news agency, the plane carrying Mr. Macron landed at the airport of the capital of Lebanon at 6:45 a.m. (local time). The visit took place in the context of Paris' efforts to promote reform and protect the sovereignty of this Middle Eastern country.

The purpose of the visit is to highlight the importance of Lebanon's sovereignty, help the country move forward with structural economic reforms to restore international confidence and ensure a unity government capable of promoting change, a source from the French presidency said.

This is Mr. Macron's first visit to Lebanon since 2020. The visit comes after a French- and US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement took effect in November 2023.

Paris has played a key role in breaking the political deadlock in Lebanon, along with its US and Saudi partners, leading to the country having a new president and prime minister.

Regarding the situation in Lebanon, on January 16, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a consensus statement welcoming the country's election of Mr. Joseph Aoun as President on January 9, thereby filling a key position that had been vacant for more than two years, as well as the subsequent appointment of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The Security Council urged Lebanon's new leaders to continue "working constructively to promote the country's stability and the rapid formation of a new government".

The UN's most powerful body stressed that the formation of a government is crucial for the stability and resilience of the Middle Eastern country in the face of current domestic and regional challenges, and encouraged all stakeholders in Lebanon to demonstrate solidarity towards this goal.

The UN Security Council reaffirmed its strong support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Lebanon.

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