Latest news with #JeanYvesLeDrian
LBCI
12-06-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Reform or relapse: French envoy Le Drian backs arms monopoly, UNIFIL role in securing Lebanon's future—LBCI interview
French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian says Lebanon is entering a "critical moment of opportunity" and must accelerate reforms to avoid squandering the international goodwill it has recently regained. In an interview on LBCI's "Vision 2030" program, Le Drian said the first 100 days of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government have marked a shift from years of stagnation and dysfunction to renewed state functionality, albeit still incomplete. "There is now a Lebanese state again. It's not yet operating at full capacity, but basic stability has been restored after years of paralysis. That's a major achievement," he said. Le Drian credited the election of President Joseph Aoun by Lebanon's long-deadlocked parliament with restoring a sense of national pride and direction. He emphasized that this "Lebanese moment" must be seized—especially as the country begins to recover credibility on the international stage. "When President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam travel abroad, they are now met with respect. Lebanon is once again recognized," he said. "It's a new deal." Le Drian acknowledged that 100 days is not enough to judge a government's full performance, but said it is enough to confirm the political will to change. He praised the current cabinet as "coherent, competent, and determined," noting a level of unity and technical professionalism he hadn't seen in Lebanon for years. Several reforms are already underway, he said, including a more transparent appointment process, a judicial independence law approved by the government, banking secrecy reforms passed by parliament, and a draft bank restructuring law, which is under review. However, Le Drian warned that without further legislative action, Lebanon risks falling back into crisis. He called on parliament to urgently adopt the remaining key reforms, including a law on deposit recovery. The French envoy stressed that prolonging reform until after the next parliamentary elections would be a mistake, noting the extension of the current legislative session through the summer is a positive step. Le Drian also addressed the European Union's recent decision to place Lebanon on a money laundering watchlist. He said it's a reflection of previous international assessments and reinforces the urgency of banking reforms. "Unless Lebanon implements serious reforms, it will again be seen as the bad student of the class," he warned. Asked whether the International Monetary Fund (IMF) support remains necessary, Le Drian said it is "a prerequisite" for recovery, but he now sees serious engagement between Lebanon and the IMF. He also discussed the possibility of organizing new international donor conferences like the CEDRE conference, which failed to deliver results due to Lebanon's lack of follow-through on promised reforms. "That's when trust was broken," he said. "We must rebuild that trust." Le Drian concluded by warning that Lebanon cannot afford to miss this rare window of opportunity, especially with regional dynamics shifting after the war in Syria. When asked about the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its future role, the envoy said there is broad support for renewing its mandate, highlighting the close link between Resolution 1701 and UNIFIL's mission. He warned that undermining UNIFIL could increase the risk of renewed conflict in southern Lebanon. He stressed the importance of recognizing, respecting, and strengthening its role to maintain stability, noting many Lebanese remain fearful of war returning. The French envoy also stressed that rebuilding southern Lebanon cannot start without establishing security and ensuring all weapons are exclusively controlled by the state. He emphasized that only the Lebanese Armed Forces should be tasked with maintaining security and supporting reconstruction efforts. Le Drian expressed full support for President Aoun's approach, commending his blend of determination and caution as the ideal model for the president's role in upholding the state's monopoly on arms.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Le Drian returns to Beirut, revives French role in Lebanon's crisis
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Mariella Succar France — often referred to as Lebanon's 'tender mother' — has renewed its diplomatic engagement in the country through the return of presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian. One of Le Drian's most notable meetings took place away from the media spotlight with Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Loyalty to the Resistance. According to information obtained by LBCI, the talks were described as positive. During the meeting, Raad emphasized that the key to stability in Lebanon lies in halting Israeli attacks and ensuring a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory — goals that require strong international pressure, particularly from guarantor countries such as France and the United States. On the issue of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Raad affirmed that Hezbollah supports the extension of the peacekeeping mission under the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 — a position aligned with the stance of Lebanon's three top officials. While Le Drian heard Hezbollah's views, he, in turn, stressed the importance of advancing reforms — particularly the banking restructuring law and legislation addressing the financial gap. According to sources, he received support for moving forward on these key reforms. Le Drian also discussed these issues — along with the question of ensuring the state's exclusive control over arms — in meetings with several Lebanese political figures, including MPs Michel Douaihy and Fouad Makhzoumi, Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel, and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. But the broader question remains: What real and effective role can France play in Lebanon? And is it capable of easing pressure from Saudi Arabia and the United States, both of which place Hezbollah's disarmament at the forefront of their demands? What can be said is that Paris appears to be trying to revive the reform agenda, which has taken a backseat to the issue of weapons. Whether France will succeed in this effort remains to be seen. France's role may be more impactful when it comes to the extension of UNIFIL's mandate in southern Lebanon. In addition to being a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, France also holds the role of "penholder" — responsible for drafting Council resolutions and statements, including those related to Lebanon. Since Le Drian's last visit to Beirut, France has managed to reopen discussions on UNIFIL ahead of the renewal deadline in late August — a renewal that this year coincides with a rise in tensions and incidents involving the international force. In the end, France — through Le Drian — appears once again not only to be offering assistance to Lebanon, but also working to reinforce its presence and role on the Lebanese stage.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
French Envoy meets Walid Jumblatt to discuss Lebanon's political developments
Former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Walid Jumblatt, received French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian at his residence in Clemenceau. French Ambassador to Lebanon Hervé Magro accompanied Le Drian. The meeting was also attended by the current head of the PSP, MP Taymour Jumblatt, and Mrs. Nora Jumblatt. Discussions focused on the latest political developments in Lebanon and the broader region.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Gebran Bassil meets French Envoy Le Drian to discuss local and regional developments
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil received the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, accompanied by the French ambassador to Lebanon Hervé Magro, Mr. Romain Calvary, and Marie Favreil, in the presence of MP Nada Boustani. The meeting focused on the latest local and regional developments and their implications for Lebanon and the region.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
International community differ on Hezbollah disarmament in Lebanon aid talks — the details
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Mariella Succar The disarmament of Hezbollah must be the top priority before any other issue in Lebanon, a message U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson conveyed to Lebanese officials in recent meetings. This position from Washington is not new and aligns particularly with Saudi Arabia's stance. However, it does not fully align with the views of other members of the Quintet Committee. Egypt advocates for separating the economic track from the issue of exclusive state control over weaponry. It believes that Lebanon's access to International Monetary Fund aid should only be linked to its commitment to implementing reforms, not disarmament. France, whose presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian has begun talks with Lebanese officials, believes it is necessary to work on the issue of exclusive state control over weapons in parallel with reconstruction and aid efforts for Lebanon, without any single issue overshadowing the others. All these issues were raised during the first day of talks between French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and Lebanese officials. Le Drian emphasized the importance of advancing reforms and passing laws related to banking sector restructuring and addressing the financial gap, considering these essential for securing international aid. Le Drian also reaffirmed France's interest in organizing an international conference for Lebanon's reconstruction. In parallel, he reiterated his country's position on the necessity of confining weaponry to the Lebanese state. For his part, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated the Parliament's commitment to completing all required reform legislation. Regarding the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Berri emphasized the importance of France's role in supporting Lebanon against conspiracies targeting the international forces that aim to undermine them and Lebanon, especially in the south. Ultimately, the Lebanese side has repeatedly heard these demands from international and regional envoys, but the real challenge remains in their implementation.
