French President to open high-level meeting on Lebanon

PARIS, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- President Emmanuel Macron of France will open Friday a high-level meeting on Lebanon in Paris.
The meeting will be attended by representatives of all permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the European Union and other nations and international bodies, the French Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in a press statement.
"The aim of this meeting is that the international community reaffirm its support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, stability and security," the ministry said.
Macron had promised several months ago to convene a meeting of the Lebanese "support group" to bolster that country which is facing security, refugee and financial challenges.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri will attend Friday's gathering under the chairmanship of French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
In addition to the United States, Russia, Britain, China and France - all five permanent members of the Security Council - Germany and Italy are also participating.
International bodies alongside the Arab League and the European Union will include the High Commission for Refugees (HCR), the World Bank, the World Food Programme and the UN office for coordination in Lebanon.
Macron also said previously that he wanted to encourage investment in Lebanon once the security climate was assured.
In the past, France has organised several major "donor" conferences for Lebanon, raising billions of dollars to help boost the economy and rebuild the country after the frequent Israeli invasions that caused massive damage there. (end) jk.ibi