Paris II And The Lebanese Failure

Randa Takieddine     Al-Hayat     2003/08/27

The meetings between French President Jacques Chirac and Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri are regular and continuous being therefore very ordinary news. Contrary to what ill-intentioned people say about these mutual relations, the French President had announced in a press conference following his first tenure, that he would adopt personal diplomacy regarding his international relations as well as personal friendships in dealing with other Presidents.

Thus, he deployed huge efforts to hold an international conference in the French Presidential Palace (Elysée) in November 2002 in order to encourage other participating countries to offer a financial aid to Lebanon and  collect $4.4 billion settling therefore some of its debts.

Arab officials participating in the conference were astonished to witness Chirac's willingness to provide this sum. The political, economic Lebanese situations aborted however the achievements of Paris II, while the political leadership in Lebanon is much more interested in preserving its position - forever if possible -  its interests and gains apart from the country's future and its citizens.

Numbers describe flagrantly the worrying situation of a country which citizens are dynamic and youths succeed abroad whenever they have the chance to leave. Following Paris II, the Lebanese government aimed at decreasing the deficit to 25% while the latter currently reached 38.95% widening therefore the gap between the government's objective and the economic status quo. The absence of a wide consensus and the prevailing political situation hindered furthermore the promising privatization process.

The only and solely reform was achieved in the Middle East Airlines, which will make profits next year, proving therefore that the state is able to conduct a successful reform only under the umbrella of a political consensus.

Meanwhile, the EDL ( Electricité Du Liban)  is grieved by a catastrophic financial and administrative situation in a country seeking to represent an investment pole competing with the other countries. The EDL is broke and unable to purchase enough fuel for the Lebanese regions. Moreover, The company did not succeed in obtaining the Lebanese Financial Ministry's approval in order to get a credit. While it asked for around $267 millions, it only got $67 from the banks due to its critical administrative situation and the lack of confidence among the ruling parties regarding the corruption prevailing in the administrations.

 "Al Madina" bankruptcy worsened things representing another financial catastrophe in Lebanon. It is worthnoting that the Lebanese judicial authority is moving very slowly in dealing with this case, after the Central Bank governor, Riyad Salameh pointed out the gaps existing in the financing of the bank.

This case is similar to the other issues in Lebanon, in which political and regional interests always interfere. Journalist and citizens are incarcerated while corruption and money laundering perpetrators remain protected becoming almost political leaders.

How long will the Lebanese situation remain this way? Times have changed while Lebanon is broke. Yet, its political leadership is preoccupied with its personal affairs and Syria's contentment. The solution lies in  letting Lebanon's youths choose their political leaders and punish the corrupted. In other words, municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections must be free. The constitution, freedom and basic rights should not be violated and the politician in Lebanon should be punished before his people.