France’s Emmanuel Macron offers Lebanon help and anti-corruption commitment

He said aid was not blank cheque and Lebanese politicians had to commit to reform

A journalist takes a selfie with French President Emmanuel Macron after a news conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon. Bloomberg

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon. Bloomberg

French President Emmanuel Macron visits the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron, flanked by French Health Minister Olivier Veran visit the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron meets members of the military mobilised for the reconstruction of the port of Beirut, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron meets members of the military mobilised for the reconstruction of the port of Beirut, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and French President Emmanuel Macron meet members of the military mobilised for the reconstruction of the port, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron flanked by French Health Minister Olivier Veran and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian listen to Arnaud Tranchant, commander of the Tonnerre helicopter carrier, off the port of Beirut. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian meet with UN representatives and NGOs mobilised for the reconstruction of Beirut port. AFP

Alpha jets of the Patrouille de France release smoke in the colours of the Lebanese flag while flying over the Mohammad al-Amin mosque in the centre of Lebanon's capital Beirut, as the former French mandate marked its centenary while teetering on the brink of the abyss. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron plants a cedar next to members of the NGO Jouzour Loubnan in Jaj, Lebanon. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron hugs a blast victim, Tamara Tayah, while attending a ceremony to mark Lebanon's centenary in Jaj Cedars Reserve Forest, northeast of the capital Beirut. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to victims of the blast as he arrives to a ceremony to plant a cedar next to members of the NGO Jouzour Loubnan in Jaj, near Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron meets former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon, in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

Lebanese President Michel Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron during a welcome ceremony at Beirut airport. AFP

Protesters walk outside the home of Fairouz, one of Arab world's most famed singers, as French president Emmanuel Macron visits her, in Rabieh, Lebanon. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron, gives respect sign to anti government protesters as he leaves the house of Lebanon's diva Fairouz, one of the Arab world's most popular singers, in Rabieh, north Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, speaks with an anti government protester after his visit to the Lebanon's diva Fairouz, one of the Arab world's most popular singers, in Rabieh, north Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron talks to journalists as he leaves the home of Fairouz, one of the Arab world's most famed singers, after visiting her in Rabieh, Lebanon. Reuters

Lebanese President Michel Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron, both wearing face masks, during a welcome ceremony at Beirut international airport. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at Beirut international airport, Lebanon. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to reporters after his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at Beirut international airport. AP

French President Emmanuel Macron has laid out priorities for Lebanon as it recovers from the Beirut port blast and promised hundreds of millions of euros in aid if leaders could introduce reforms.

Mr Macron said the key areas where France would help Lebanon to recover from the August 4 blast, which killed 190 people, were health, food, education and housing.

He said the aid was not a blank cheque and that Lebanese politicians had to agree to reform and commit to transparency.

In Beirut on Tuesday night. Mr Macron said if promises were not met by the end of October, consequences could include sanctions co-ordinated with the EU.

“We will not turn our eyes away from supporting the Lebanese people,” he said.

Mr Macron said France had sent 700 soldiers and 140 technical experts to the blast site and now they were looking at rebuilding.

“We have four priorities," Mr Macron said. "Our support to primary health centres will be reinforced, as well as our support to Rafik Hariri Hospital."

He said France would give €700 million (Dh3.06 billion/$833.9m) to Hariri Hospital, which looks after Covid-19 patients.

“In parallel, help will be distributed to private hospitals as well. After health there is food, ” Mr Macron said.

“The third priority is education. Children must absolutely go back to school and students go back to university. The future of the country is at stake.

“A lot of children I met today told me they will not go back to school. I think we cannot accept this as a fatality. We will mobilise €700m for school reconstruction.

“For housing we must not give up. The 300,000 people who lost their houses live with close friends and family.

“But their houses must be rebuilt transparently and with proper security. I am also thinking of the port. This is part of the essential mission we looked at.”

Mr Macron said it was crucial that any investigations took place with international experts.

He said Lebanon’s political parties promised a new government would be formed in 15 days.

Mr Macron said he would ensure that the international community supported the country if reforms were in place.

He was in Lebanon on Tuesday hoping to spur politicians into reforming their failing government with the prospect of international funding to rescue the economy.

Talking of France's historic ties with Lebanon, Mr Macron said Paris would host another international conference in October to rally support for Lebanon, two years after a similar conference had little impact.

It was his second trip in a month to the Lebanese capital.

Mr Macron visited the city a day after the Beirut port blast.