Although the French mandate for Lebanon ended in 1943, Paris remained dealing with Lebanon as its political foothold in the Middle East. During the recent three decades, France played a vital role in the Lebanese political and econo0mic situation in Lebanon, especially during the term of the late prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Meanwhile, Paris international policies have been affected or decided by the unilateral ruler of the world politics in Washington. Thus, after long years of supporting the ruling class in Lebanon, France engaged in the US blockade on Lebanon.
After Beirut Port blast on August 4, 2020, the French President Emmanuel Macron visited Lebanon twice in an attempt to perform a leading role in directing the political and economic situation in Lebanon. However, when he failed due to several Lebanese complications, Macron violated the diplomatic limits and rebuked all the Lebanese parties for procrastinating the cabinet formation, though not all of them are involved in the government creation delay.
The offensive diplomacy could not be tolerated by the parties concerned with defending the national pride and dignity.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah on September 29, 2020 firmly rejected accusations of betrayal by French President Emmanuel Macron, noting meanwhile that the Resistance party is still committed to the French initiative “but based on respect”.
In a televised speech via Al-Manar, Sayyed Nasrallah clarified fallacies made regarding the formation of the new government in Lebanon and Paris’ initiative regarding the current crisis.
His eminence stressed, in this context, that Macron is welcome in Lebanon “as a friend and ally, not as a guardian of our country.”
Blatant Violations
The French ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, rebuked on July 6, 2021, the caretaker prime minister, Hassan Diab for saying the country is under siege and blamed years of “mismanagement and inaction” by Lebanese leaders for its economic collapse.
Grillo forgot, intentionally, that her administration has been supporting the ruling class in Lebanon involved in the “mismanagement and inaction” and disregarded the fact that France is part of the US blockade policy against Lebanon.
Two days later, (July 8, 2021), Coordinator of International Aid for Lebanon, the French diplomat Pierre Duquesne, met with the Lebanese minister of fiance Ghazi Wazni, to discuss with him the third conference held by Paris in “support of the Lebanese people”.
Although supporting “the Lebanese people” away from the state institutions violates Lebanon’s sovereignty, the diplomatic offense was mainly concentrated in the form. During the meeting, Duquesne sat improperly, directing his shoes towards the Lebanese minister.
Social media websites circulated the photo and denounced the French diplomatic offensive. Unfortunately, no one of the Lebanese statesmen commented on or responded to the French violations.
Finally, Grillo and Duquesne must remember that the French mandate for Lebanon was over in 1943. If some Lebanese parties lack the courage to face such insults, other parties are brave enough to reject and prevent such diplomatic violations.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
