On Wednesday 23 September, the International Support Group (ISG) for Lebanon called on the country's authorities to form a government swiftly and carry out the reforms needed.
In a statement, the members of the ISG “urged Lebanon’s leaders to unite in support of the timely formation of a Government able to meet the legitimate aspirations expressed by the Lebanese people and committed to addressing Lebanon’s multiple and acute challenges, notably its humanitarian, socioeconomic and financial crises, the Covid-19 pandemic” and the reconstruction of Beirut.
The United Nations, the EU, the Arab League, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, the United States and Russia have therefore “strongly urged” Lebanon's political leaders to undertake critical reforms. They believe urgent action is required to restore economic stability, improve delivery of public services and the credibility of the financial sector, resume effective talks with the IMF and prioritise key governance measures. Credible measures are also needed to fight corruption and combat tax evasion.
The ISG referred to the explosion in Beirut on 4 August, and called on the international community to increase its support quickly. The members of the ISG stated that “the pledged support should be timely, sufficient, consistent with the needs of the Lebanese people and delivered with utmost efficiency and transparency” and underscored the importance of close and efficient coordination between the actors involved and stated.
An international conference in support of Lebanon will be held in Paris in October to take stock of what has been done so far and to assess the “most efficient and transparent way forward to promote early recovery” of the Lebanese capital. The conference will also provide an opportunity to review the reform agenda. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)