By Hussein Dakroub
BEIRUT: The European Union voiced support Thursday for Lebanon’s
democracy, announcing an additional 30-million-euro allocation with the aim of
accelerating the country’s reforms.
The announcement was made following talks in Brussels between
Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the President of the European Commission Jose
Manuel Barroso, who declared that the EU supported Lebanon’s stability as well
as political and economic reforms.
In an apparent political boost for the Mikati Cabinet, Barroso
announced an additional 30 million euro allocation to Lebanon with the aim of
bolstering its democracy. The amount comes on top of this year’s allocation of
62 million euros to Lebanon.
Barroso said he appreciated Mikati’s efforts to maintain peace
and stability in Lebanon despite the wave of popular upheavals in some Arab
countries. He said Lebanon has for long been a partner of the EU and an active
member in the EU’s neighborhood policy.
“The EU supports peace and stability in the region. It also
supports all those who are committed to the democratic and peaceful path,” he
told a joint news conference with Mikati in Brussels.
“Our meeting today was constructive and fruitful. It was an
opportunity to convey to Prime Minister Mikati a message of strong support and
encouragement to press ahead with the necessary political, economic and social
reforms,” Barroso said. He added that the European states are convinced the
only way to guarantee long-term stability is through reforms.
“In the past few months, Lebanon has taken important steps
toward supporting progress in the implementation of the European political agenda.
However, we at the same time believe that more can be done,” Barroso said.
“With the aim of strengthening democracy in Lebanon, I am happy
to announce an additional 30 million euro allocation from the SPRING (Support
for Partnership, Reform and Inclusive Growth) instrument ... This [amount]
comes on top of allocation to Lebanon of 62 million euro,” Barroso said. “The
message we want to send to Lebanon is very clear. We stand on Lebanon’s side,”
he added.
For his part, Mikati said his government was determined to carry
out political, economic and social reforms undeterred by turbulence in some
Arab countries as a result of pro-democracy popular uprisings. He also defended
his government’s policy to insulate Lebanon from the repercussions of the turmoil
in Syria, saying most foreign states have praised this policy.
Mikati told Barroso maintaining stability in Lebanon would not
prevent his government from carrying out all necessary reforms, no matter how
painful they are.
“Lebanon has always constituted an example of tolerance and
democracy for regional states. Amid the changes in the Arab world, we must
maintain and boost these values,” Mikati said. “Therefore, we are serious about
implementing political, economic and social reforms that will ensure long-term
stability,” he added.
Referring to 13 months of popular upheaval against the regime of
Syrian President Bashar Assad, Mikati said: “Lebanon’s position is fully clear.
We have taken a decision to dissociate ourselves from what is happening in
Syria because of our special relationship with Syria, including historic,
economic and social ties. Also, 80 percent of our border is with Syria and our
relationship with it goes far back.”
Acknowledging that rival March 8 and March 14 parties were
deeply split over the crisis in Syria, Mikati said Lebanon’s interests could
not be served by stirring up trouble in the country because of the unrest in
the neighboring state.
“While we are dissociating ourselves from what is happening, we
do not want to have more differences in our society, which is already divided,”
he said. “Today, all states appreciate what we are doing. What is important is
to try to maintain stability in Lebanon.”
Later, Mikati, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Adnan
Mansour and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahas, held talks with EU Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule on projects financed
by the EU in Lebanon.
“We have discussed Lebanon’s reform efforts and the EU’s
assistance based on the more for more principle,” Füle said after the meeting.
“For the EU, it is important that Lebanon advances with reforms since they
bring benefits to the people in the country and also open doors for more
support and assistance from the EU.
Referring to the additional 30 million euro allocation to
Lebanon, Fule said: “This top-up reflects the EU’s commitment to supporting
Lebanon’s reforms in the field of institution-building, democracy, including
civil society, good governance and human rights as well as inclusive economic
growth.”
Earlier
Thursday, Mikati met with the president of the Belgian lower house of
parliament, Andre Flahaut, and the president of the Belgian senate, Sabine de
Bethune. Mikati said his government was fulfilling its humanitarian duties
toward Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He noted the cooperation between Lebanon and
international organizations in terms of assisting the 22,000 Syrian refugees in
the country.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Apr-27/171583-eu-supports-lebanon-reforms-with-30-mln-euros.ashx#axzz1t3xxZ1UM
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