Conference on the
Reconstruction of the Liberated Territories
and the Adjacent Areas, and on the
Overall Development of Lebanon
Prime Minister’s Closing Statement
Distinguished
Ambassadors
and Representatives
of Donor Parties, Organizations and Funds
I am pleased, in the name of the
Lebanese Government, to thank you personally and to thank your Governments
for having actively participated in this conference. I also would like to
thank you for the sincere support you have showed, in your name and in the
name of your countries, for restoring normal conditions in Lebanon, so that
our country would be able to play again its traditional, long-standing role
in the world community.
The Lebanese people has endured a
lot. Yesterday, during your visit to the South, you had the opportunity to
witness the extent of material and moral damage inflicted upon our people in
the South. The Israeli occupation, which lasted more than twenty years, has
left the villages and cities of Southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa in
complete isolation and distress. Now that the area has been liberated, we are
endeavoring to restore its social cohesion and normal conditions of life. For
this purpose, we have invited you to participate with us in the rebuilding
effort.
This
conference represents a major first step towards the rehabilitation and
development of Southern Lebanon and the West Bekaa. You have already showed
your support through your willingness to engage in the consultation and
coordination process, in light of the comprehensive National Development Plan
and of the urgent needs of South Lebanon. We much appreciate your commitment
to review the Plan and the urgent needs during the coming months, in
consultation with your governments and in coordination with all parties.
Our
concern for implementing these projects that aim at improving living
conditions in South Lebanon stems from our main purpose, which is to ensure
the security and welfare of all Lebanese citizens. It is, therefore,
necessary to lay the ground of a sustained development in the South, so as to
avoid any socio-economic deterioration that could jeopardize the security and
the stability of the region.
It
is clear, from the statements we heard to-day, that a number of views about
basic issues, as expressed by most participants, are in agreement with the
views of the Lebanese Government. So, in this context, I will formulate, the
results reached by the Conference:
- Expressing
its support to Lebanon, a country struggling with so many difficulties,
the international community is aware of the fact that the socio-economic
rehabilitation of the liberated and neighboring territories represents a
challenge for Lebanon as well as for the whole international community.
Indeed, the success of such an undertaking is hinging upon a close
cooperation and coordination between Lebanon and the international
community, given that Southern Lebanon has obviously a preeminent
geo-strategic position.
- Rehabilitation
and development are primarily the responsibility of the Lebanese
Government, but this task cannot be successfully fulfilled without the
participation of the Arab countries and the international community as a
whole.
- Most
importantly, the field trip to South Lebanon has allowed the delegations
to have a close and vivid look on the prevailing conditions in the
region. As a result, a clear and realistic description of needs will be
transmitted to the officials of the participating countries, organizations
and funds.
- The
task of socio-economic rehabilitation and development should be
undertaken in collaboration with the private sector and the NGOs, and
this partnership is a critical factor.
- It is
clear that a distinction should be made between meeting the urgent basic
needs, on one hand, and the implementation of mid- and long term
projects within the framework of the National Five-Year Development
Program, on the other hand. The consensus was that Lebanon is in dire
need of urgent aid for its emergency assistance program, which cannot
wait for another donors’ conference to be convened. Thus, such urgent
aid should be obtained through bilateral contacts and initiatives.
- Regarding
the institutional framework for a clear implementation of the Development
Plan’s projects and the coordination of aid, the consensus was on the
need to establish a flexible mechanism of transparency, accountability
and efficiency. Such a mechanism would put together the representatives
of the Arab and international donors and those of the Lebanese State,
backed by economic, social and information technology analytic tools to
precisely determine the needs and priorities of the country. In this
respect, the participants promised to pursue their discussions, in order
to set up a coordination mechanism that would allow meeting these needs
and securing a efficient project implementation.
- The
participants decided to establish a three-member working committee,
consisting of representatives of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social
Development, the World Bank and the UNDP. In tandem with the Lebanese
Higher Committee to be appointed by the Lebanese Government, the
tripartite committee will work on devising a comprehensive scheme for
the Donors’ Conference, including the setting of a location and a date
for the next meeting, and the establishment of a coordination mechanism
that would allow the Conference to reach its goals, by obtaining
specific and new material commitments in support of the overall
development of Lebanon, and especially of South Lebanon.
In
conclusion, I would like to express my deep gratitude for your support and
your commitment to the goals of comprehensive development of South Lebanon
and its population. We, on our side, will continue our efforts to follow on
these commitments.
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