Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Wednesday participated in the International Conference in Support of the Lebanese People. The conference was held virtually, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and saw the participation of 30-odd heads of state and government, ministers, as well as representatives of international organizations and NGOs.
The conference is part of the international community’s continued efforts to alleviate the consequences of the Beirut blast. Despite the fact that the first emergency response allocated more than EUR 280 million, the participants underscored that Lebanon was going through a profound political and economic crisis, and that the blast was just the latest in a long line of problems that include growing poverty, influx of Palestinian and Syrian refugees, antigovernment demonstrations, dysfunctional government and COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the event, Macron and Guterres highlighted the need for a coordinated and comprehensive continuation of support for the economic and social recovery as well as sustainable development of Beirut and Lebanon. The conference announced the Lebanon Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), aimed to set up a Lebanese government that will efficiently and without delay implement the necessary structural reforms as well as follow the principles of transparency, inclusiveness and responsibility. In that context, the participants underlined strong support for Lebanese youth and civil society organizations, which are expected to play a prominent role in the country’s stabilization and progress.
In his address, Grlić Radman welcomed the holding of the conference at such high level, adding that the Croatian Government had sent emergency aid to Beirut immediately after the blast in the form of personal protective gear as well as humanitarian aid via the World Food Programme. The minister also recalled that Croatia was assisting Lebanon this year through a development support project for the Syrian refugees in the county. Croatia supports Lebanon’s recovery under the Build Back Better principle, which will lay the foundation for the 3RF.
In light of that, the Croatian Government at its 26th session adopted a decision to send financial support for the implementation of reforms, recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon. As an internationally responsible and solidary country, Croatia will send EUR 100,000 for said purposes.