PARIS (AP) — Lebanon’s prime minister appealed for support for his country from world powers at a summit Friday convened by France to bolster Lebanon’s institutions as it emerges from a bizarre political crisis with regional and international implications.
Just before the gathering got underway, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed America’s backing for Lebanon’s “sovereignty, stability and independence,” while French President Emmanuel Macron called on Mideast countries to refrain from interfering in Lebanese domestic affairs.
Lebanon has in recent years attracted considerable attention as world nations sought to keep the tiny Mediterranean country stable amid a Mideast region swirling in wars and conflict.
Lebanese leaders say their country has earned the support on account of the burden of hosting Syrian refugees — 1 million of them, according to the United Nations, or close to a quarter of Lebanon’s own population.
“The stability of Lebanon necessarily depends on its capacity to cope with the economic and social challenges stemming essentially from the Syria crisis,” Prime Minister Saad Hariri said in opening remarks at the summit.
He called for investment in Lebanon, support for its security services, and a resolution to the refugee question that has dominated domestic politics since 2012.
It is the first major gathering of key nations to discuss Lebanon’s future since a crisis erupted following Hariri’s shock resignation last month while in Saudi Arabia. The move appeared orchestrated by the Gulf kingdom as a message to its regional opponent Iran to reign in its Lebanese proxy, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
Hariri, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, threw Lebanon into turmoil with his resignation and renewed a vigorous debate over foreign interference in Lebanese internal politics. Lebanon’s political parties depend on considerable support from regional powers for funds, security, and influence.
He officially rescinded his resignation this week, saying Lebanon’s political parties had reached an agreement to distance the country from regional conflicts — such as the war next door in Syria.
While the crisis was unfolding, Macron led diplomatic efforts to restore Hariri to his post and convince him to stay on as prime minister. The United States expressed support, recognizing Hariri as one of its chief partners in the Middle East.
On Friday, Macron said the international community would have to “stay mobilized” for Lebanon’s peaceful future.
“Lebanon’s stability is not just essential for its own residents,” he said. “It is so for the entire region, already very affected by the violence of conflicts.”
“For Lebanon to be protected from these crises, it is primordial that all Lebanese parties and all regional players respect the cardinal principle of non-interference,” Macron added. “Recent events showed that the involvement of Lebanese militias in the conflicts that are damaging the Mideast cannot continue without exposing Lebanon, and all its parties, to collateral damage.”
Hariri said he was “personally grateful” to the French president and that Lebanon was able to weather its crisis thanks to its international partners and that the country’s many parties affirmed their “commitment to dissociation from regional conflicts.”
After brief opening statements to the media, the dignitaries retreated to an ornate, gold-trimmed room for discussions. Hariri shook hands with Tillerson as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting.
Tillerson did not respond when a reporter asked about the message he would delivering to Lebanon.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tillerson would affirm U.S. support for Lebanon’s military. She said he would also encourage other nations to do more to constrain Hezbollah and argue that doing so will lead to a “stronger, more stable Lebanon.”
___
Issa reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.
