World powers are meeting in Paris on Thursday aiming to raise at least 500 million euros in urgent humanitarian aid for Lebanon and push for a ceasefire, but with the U.S. focused on its own efforts, diplomats said they expect little concrete progress, APA reports citing Reuters.
France has historical ties with Lebanon and has been working with Washington in trying to secure a ceasefire. But its influence has been limited since Israel launched a large-scale onslaught on Hezbollah in September that has seen thousands displaced and more than 2,000 people killed.
Paris hastily arranged the conference as a means to show it still has clout in its former protectorate, but while 70 delegations and 15 international organisations are represented, few major ministers are attending.
France's special envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that if the conflict did not stop there was a risk of civil war.
"If this continues, Lebanon is in danger of death," he told LCI television.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting the Middle East on a final push for peace before next month's election, while Saudi Arabia, which has been reluctant to engage in Lebanon, sent a junior minister.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati and key ministers involved in relief efforts were expected to attend, but neither Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the initiative, nor Iran were invited.
According to France's foreign ministry the conference aims to raise at least 500 million euros in aid to primarily help the 500,000-1 million displaced. Lebanon says it needs $250 million a month to deal with the crisis.
The delegations will reiterate the need to cease hostilities on the basis of the 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which calls for southern Lebanon to be free of any troops or weapons other than those of the Lebanese state.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
