France seeks 3 objectives at Lebanon conference in Paris, aims to raise $400M
The Lebanon conference set to take place in Paris on Thursday will focus on raising financial aid and rallying the international community behind efforts for a cease-fire.
PARIS — A reported total of 70 countries and humanitarian organizations are set to participate on Thursday in a one-day conference on Lebanon in Paris at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Gulf countries are expected to take part, as will representatives of Egypt and Jordan and many nongovernmental groups operating in Lebanon. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a tour of the Middle East, will not participate. The US will be represented by Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma. Senior representatives of the European Union and the United Nations will also attend. The full list of attendees has not yet been released.
Macron met Wednesday in Paris with Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati. American envoy Amos Hochstein was also in Paris Wednesday morning, after traveling to Beirut, though he did not meet with Macron. The French Foreign Ministry declined to elaborate on whom Hochstein did meet in the French capital.
A source at the Elysee Palace told reporters Wednesday that the conference will focus on three objectives.
