(31 Mar 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut - 31 March 2023
1. Wide of news conference by European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic
2. Cutaway of flags
3 SOUNDBITE (English) Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management:
"A country that finds itself in a very difficult situation at the moment due to the financial crisis, political stalemate and of course, the Syrian crisis next door that also pushed a large number of Syrian refugees to Lebanon and here I would like to express my recognition for the challenge that this huge number of Syrian refugees presents for a country of the size of Lebanon and we will continue, as we have been doing for 12 years already."
4. Lebanese flags
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management:
"And that's why I came to Lebanon with the announcement of an increased humanitarian aid budget for Lebanon. We have allocated for 2023 60 million euros for humanitarian aid for Lebanon. That represents a 20% increase compared to last year. But as you know, humanitarian aid is not a sustainable long-term solution."
6. Camera operators
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management:
"This country needs more. This country needs reforms. This country needs political consolidation. This country needs the election of a president. This country needs a government with full powers in place and this country needs an agreement with the international community, specifically with the International Monetary Fund and such an agreement would unlock substantial financial support also from the European Union that should help Lebanon recover from the current difficult situation."
8. Pan left of news conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management:
"We believe that Syrian refugees should be able to return to Syria, which is their home country. But we at the same time consider that conditions are still not there, in Syria, for safe and voluntary return. Now, those who want to go back can go back. Nobody is preventing them. On the contrary, there are humanitarian organisations that facilitate the return of those who do want to return. Besides, we are not providing humanitarian assistance to Syrians only in neighbouring countries like Lebanon. We are providing a lot of humanitarian assistance to Syrians in Syria, both in government-controlled areas as well as in non-government-controlled areas. Our humanitarian assistance to people in Syria is much larger than the humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon."
10. Photographer
11 . Lenarcic leaving news conference
STORYLINE:
A European Union official visiting Lebanon said on Friday that the bloc will increase its humanitarian assistance to the crisis-struck country, but that more significant long-term aid depends on reforms and a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said at a news conference following his two-day visit that the EU will provide 60 million euros (more than $65 million) in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon in 2023, a 20% increase from last year.
But he warned that such aid is "not a sustainable long-term solution” to the massive financial crisis that has left three-quarters of Lebanon’s population of six million in poverty.
Progress towards finalising a $3 billion IMF bailout package for Lebanon has largely stalled.
IMF officials said continued inaction would leave the nation in a “never-ending crisis” in which it could spiral into hyperinflation.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
