Speech by Sigrid Kaag at the Lebanon Conference

Speech | 04-08-2021

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Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Let me begin by thanking you, President Macron and Secretary-General Guterres, for organising this conference.

‘Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;
the most massive characters are seared with scars.’

These words by the Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran are both powerful and timeless.

Today, exactly one year after Beirut shook on its foundations, the city commemorates human trauma and loss. And it is still suffering.

Political paralysis, corruption and rising social tensions have only made matters worse.

I have great admiration for all the men and women who have rolled up their sleeves and begun rebuilding their scarred city. And for the civil society organisations that are going beyond their call of duty.

But they cannot and should not do it alone.

The key to real change lies in the hands of Lebanon’s leaders.

Lebanon needs and deserves a government that will act on the rightful demands of its citizens.

A government that is willing and able to implement necessary reforms, fight corruption and put the interests of the country above those of a small elite.

A government that offers transparent and accountable leadership.

Sadly, the Lebanese leadership is failing on all fronts.

The Netherlands remains deeply concerned about this predicament as it befalls the people of Lebanon.

That is why we welcome the new EU framework for targeted sanctions against persons responsible for undermining the democratic process and the rule of law, and for serious financial misconduct and corruption.

Because the situation is dire: as we have heard throughout the country, large numbers of Lebanese and refugees are living below the poverty line.

The Netherlands stands ready to help.

This year alone, we programmed close to 50 million euros to help improve the lives of people in Lebanon.

Today, we are committing an additional 10 million euros to support the most vulnerable amongst them: Lebanese as well as refugees, as the country has generously held refugees for decades.

And we have pledged to help dredge and rebuild the Port of Beirut. The Netherlands can bring the expertise of the Port of Rotterdam, especially in the field of water management.

But these initiatives can only succeed if Lebanon’s leaders show the political will to guide their country out of its crisis.

The people of Lebanon have been waiting for them for quite some time.

And so are we.

That is why I call on Lebanon’s leaders to do what is both necessary and overdue: take responsibility, form a transparent and accountable government, and implement reforms.

Prime Minister-designate Mikati: a tremendous burden rests upon your shoulders.

I wish you both moral courage and every success in this crucial challenge. And we will stand by you.

Thank you.