Hervé Magro, the French Ambassador to Lebanon, reiterated that France would “not relax its efforts to work together (with the Lebanese) so that Lebanon and its people regain the future they deserve” during his New Year’s greetings for 2025.
After two years and two months of presidential vacancy, Magro said in a press release from the embassy’s press office on Thursday that he hopes “the elections on January 9 will usher in a new era for Lebanon.”
He also expressed hope that 2025 would be “marked by the hope of seeing Lebanon, which occupies a special place in our hearts, take advantage of the historic opportunity to rediscover the path of rebuilding a strong state, essential to economic recovery and reconstruction, at the service of all its citizens.”
“This war brought its share of misfortune and destruction to a country already in the grip of a multifaceted crisis involving institutional paralysis and a major economic collapse,” he continued.
Magro then emphasized France’s continued support “in these difficult times” for Lebanon, its sovereignty and its people, recalling all the “diplomatic efforts, together with other countries friendly to Lebanon, that made it possible to end hostilities across the territory by establishing a ceasefire agreement” between Israel and Lebanon, signed on November 27, 2024.
Furthermore, he stated that this agreement, along with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, “are the cornerstones of our efforts to ensure the stability of the territory and the security of the region’s populations, particularly the inhabitants of southern Lebanon, alongside whom the men and women of UNIFIL, including 700 French peacekeepers, serve.”
“France also continued its commitment to political stability through the mission of President Macron’s personal envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, to resolve the Lebanese presidential deadlock, which has been vacant since October 31, 2022,” he added.
In this context, the French ambassador also spoke of the work carried out by France “with its counterparts in the Quintet” (the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar).
Finally, Magro wished the Lebanese a year full of hope and joy.
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