Jordan News

Today, Wednesday, His Majesty King Abdullah II participated in the third international conference in support of Lebanon, organized by France in partnership with the United Nations.
The conference was held via video-conference technology, coinciding with the first anniversary of the explosion of the Port of Beirut, with the participation of leaders and representatives of Arab and foreign countries, financial institutions and international organizations, in addition to representatives of the business sector and civil society in Lebanon.
This conference is the third of its kind after the port explosion, and aims to mobilize support for the Lebanese people and coordinate international response efforts.
His Majesty delivered a speech during the conference, in which he called for coordinating and organizing the roles of international bodies to ensure immediate action and rapid response to crises, while meeting the actual need on the ground and avoiding duplication.
His Majesty praised the steadfastness of the Lebanese people, saying, “Our message today is that the Lebanese people are in our hearts and in our minds. We are with you in these difficult times.”
Following is the text of His Majesty’s speech: “His Excellency President Macron, I am pleased to join you again, and I would like to thank you for your generosity and initiative in bringing us together in the midst of these challenges, on the anniversary of the fateful day that claimed the lives of more than 200 people in the tragedy of the Beirut Port explosion.” A year later, as you mentioned, the devastation and grief left behind by the explosion continues.
The explosion had a significant impact on the difficult economic and humanitarian situation in Lebanon, which requires global attention and support. Therefore, I thank you, Mr. President, and my dear friend the Secretary-General of the United Nations, represented today by his Deputy, for their continued commitment to crystallizing international efforts to help the Lebanese people in their time of need.
The crisis in Lebanon is deepening every day. Families are struggling to make ends meet, to buy the medicines they need to treat a sick child or care for an elderly parent, and we know that access to food, electricity and water, which are basic human needs, has become a daily challenge.
My friends, without a well-coordinated international effort, the crisis in Lebanon may extend beyond its borders and cast a shadow over the region and beyond.
Therefore, the support that we will provide must meet the actual need on the ground now and in the long term, while avoiding duplication by effectively distributing roles, and coordination will enable us to take advantage of the capabilities in the region to ensure immediate action and rapid response to crises when they arise.
We cannot slacken and let Lebanon and the Lebanese people approach the brink. We must continue our efforts to provide humanitarian and medical assistance, in light of the “Corona” pandemic and the worsening food shortage, but we must not forget to look for ways to enable Lebanon to return to a sustainable path of reform, recovery and development.
We must remember that the vulnerable groups in Lebanon include thousands of refugees and immigrant families who are now living in extreme poverty.
Mr. President, I have referred to the importance of state institutions, and here, once again, I would like to stress what I have mentioned about strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese military institution and security services, which will enable them to provide what the Lebanese people need in these difficult times.
As countries that receive shocks, we realize that the secret of what your Excellency is trying to do is to bring the distance between peoples and countries, to provide what the Lebanese people really need and not what every country wants to provide. Therefore, given the requests made by the Lebanese Armed Forces in this regard, I believe that they should be a top priority in the response that must be implemented for the sake of the Lebanese people.
I hope that today, and the gathering of many friends around the table, and many colleagues whom I am glad to see, will be a message to the Lebanese people, that we believe in their steadfastness and capabilities, and that their strength is admired by all.
Our message today is that the Lebanese people are in our hearts and in our minds. We are with you in these difficult times.
Mr. President, thank you, as always, for bringing us together here today.”