Magro: Lebanon has chosen a way out of war, and we have no choice but to support it

The French Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Hervé Magro, hosted a reception on the occasion of the French National Day at the Pine Palace, under the slogan "Working in the service of the Lebanese people," in the presence of Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh representing President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Judge Nawaf Salam, Dr. Mahmoud Berri representing Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, President Fouad Siniora, Ministers: Minister of Finance Yassin Jaber, Minister of Displaced and Technology Kamal Shehadeh, Minister of Administrative Development Fadi Makki, Minister of Environment Tamara Zein, Minister of Justice Adel Nassar, and MPs Fouad Makhzoumi, Neematallah Frem, Ibrahim Mneimneh, Michel Moawad, Michel Doueihy, Salim Sayegh, former Minister Michel Pharaon, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal at the head of a delegation of senior officers, Director General of Internal Security Forces Major General Raed Abdullah, Governor of Beirut Judge Marwan Abboud, Metropolitan of Beirut for the Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Audeh, Maronite Bishop of Beirut Paul Abdel Sater, Bishop Elias Nassar, President of the Maronite General Council Michel Matta, Director General of Télé Liban Dr. Alissar Naddaf, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of the Port of Beirut Marwan Nafi, Media Director at the Presidential Palace Rafik Shalala, Director General of the Housing Bank Antoine Habib, Governor of Baalbek Bashir Khader, Mayor of Beirut Ibrahim Zeidan, Director General of Finance George Maarawi, and a number of Arab and foreign ambassadors, most notably the ambassadors of China, the United States of America, Morocco, Britain, and a crowd of political, diplomatic, consular, cultural, and social figures.

After the French and Lebanese national anthems, Ambassador Magro delivered a speech in which he said:

"We gather this evening at the Pine Palace to celebrate our national day under circumstances that remain extremely complex and shrouded in much uncertainty. Lebanon was once again dragged into the furnace of war, and its toll, unfortunately, was very heavy: thousands of dead and more than a million displaced, some of whom are trying today to return to their homes, after many of them were destroyed.

For this reason, we wanted to dedicate our celebration this year to the theme of sobriety and solidarity with all those who suffered from this 'war for others,' in the words of the late journalist Ghassan Tueni.

In this context, I would like to extend a special greeting to our partners working in the humanitarian field on the ground, in appreciation of their courage and commitment. And I salute all those who rush, risking their lives, to help the displaced and populations in isolated areas, especially medical teams and civil defense personnel, particularly in the villages of the south.

Despite fatigue and adversity, many continue to work, provide relief, and support the displaced and war victims. I have seen this myself on many occasions during my field visits, alongside non-governmental organizations, Red Cross volunteers, and various solidarity initiatives. Thank you all very much and appreciation. And I think we can applaud you.

I also salute the journalists who have paid a heavy price for this conflict, and I also salute the soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), especially the French soldiers who fell for the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon. All these attacks are unacceptable.

From the very first moment, France stood by Lebanon, alongside the European Union and its member states, through a broad contribution in the humanitarian field. Since March 2, 2026, France has allocated an emergency response of 17 million euros to support relief projects implemented by non-governmental organizations, agencies, and the Red Cross network, in addition to sending one hundred tons of in-kind humanitarian aid, in close coordination with the Lebanese government, whose mobilization and efforts we appreciate under the leadership of the Minister of Social Affairs.

This aid aims to meet the most urgent needs, particularly in the areas of food security, nutrition, health, hygiene, water, sanitation, shelter, livelihoods, and emergency education, serving the most vulnerable groups.

We have also adapted our strategy to current challenges:

In the health field, we activated emergency mechanisms to ensure the continuity of health services. Through the SAQIRH project funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and implemented by Première Urgence Internationale, we deployed mobile health units to ensure the continued provision of care to the displaced despite the closure of several health centers.

In the field of education, a sector for which I have a particular fondness as you know, thanks to the commitment of the teams of the French Institute in Lebanon, we adapted our working methods to ensure that the French Institute in Beirut and its branches in various regions remained open whenever conditions permitted. The continued turnout of families to our public libraries proved that we were right, because preserving spaces of culture and openness was not a luxury, but a necessity.

We also accompanied the sixty-eight accredited French educational institutions within the French network, to help them adapt to the repercussions of the war, while ensuring the continuity of education for students.

At the university level, our work focused on preserving study opportunities and scholarships offered to Lebanese students. Therefore, Lebanese students will be exceptionally exempted, starting from the academic year 2026, from the additional registration fees imposed on foreign students in French public universities.

In the field of protecting endangered Lebanese heritage, we worked alongside UNESCO, and the Arab World Institute in Paris is currently hosting a major exhibition on the city of Byblos, introducing the French public to this exceptional archaeological site excavated by Lebanese and French archaeologists.

Finally, in the sports field, and in light of the World Cup and as a continuation of the efforts made during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we strengthened our support for the sports sector through a structural project spanning two years, based on our conviction that sport constitutes both a fundamental lever for mental health, a factor for enhancing social cohesion, and an investment in Lebanese athletes today and in the future.

This effort was not the fruit of the French state alone. In times of crisis and uncertainty, while many could have chosen to wait or even withdraw, French companies continued to invest in Lebanon, maintained their activity, and continued to provide job opportunities and train the talents of tomorrow.

I am certain that the commitment of the French business community in Lebanon, represented by the French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCEF) and the French-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, whose membership continued to increase despite the war, contributed greatly to this. I would like to salute their essential contribution to strengthening the French presence in Lebanon, and extend my sincere thanks to them.

Our companies are also engaged alongside humanitarian actors, whether individually or collectively. In this context, we have agreed together that the contributions of the French Foreign Trade Advisors for this year's July 14 celebration will be allocated to support the Lebanese Red Cross, and I thank them for this initiative.

We are also preparing to accompany Lebanon in the reconstruction phase. The needs are enormous. I am pleased to confirm to you that a loan of 75 million euros was granted to the Lebanese authorities last week to contribute, alongside the World Bank, to the government's efforts to rebuild areas destroyed by the conflict. The French contribution will be mainly allocated to support water and energy services in the affected areas.

In parallel, we launched, in cooperation with our partners in the European Union and Denmark, a few weeks ago, a project to revive the economy in the south and the Bekaa, aiming to meet the needs of areas hosting large numbers of displaced people.

Your Excellency the Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last year, I expressed my hope for a new beginning. This hope remains alive; all these parties demonstrate to us the power of unity. Yes, divisions exist, and the war has deepened them. But I still believe that the Lebanese are capable of rallying around a unifying project. And this project is the project of a sovereign Lebanon, so that no part of its territory remains occupied, and a state that alone monopolizes weapons.

The Lebanese authorities have chosen a way out of war, and we have no choice but to support them on this path, as loyal friends of Lebanon, because it is their free choice and they made it of their own free will. France, alongside its partners, is ready to accompany them on the difficult path they have chosen, by entering into direct negotiations under the auspices of the United States.

But we must not fool ourselves; the challenges remain enormous.

Some today are betting on illusions of a settlement to the conflict that might lead to an influx of money without the need to implement necessary reforms, especially economic and financial ones. However, the President of the Republic and the government constantly affirm that these reforms serve first and foremost the interest of Lebanon itself.

Therefore, France will continue its full commitment to supporting Lebanon's economic recovery, a recovery that goes through restructuring the banking sector, seven years after the crisis that struck it, and adopting a reform program supported by the International Monetary Fund and aspired to by the Lebanese.

At a time when the region is preparing to adapt to the new equation imposed by the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, and with Syria's return to the equations of regional balance, the time has come for Lebanon to prepare itself to take off.

I must also reaffirm here the importance of judicial reform, as an essential condition for strengthening the rule of law. We will continue, in this context, to support the justice sector and the rule of law, particularly by contributing to the training of judges.

I hope that the investigation into the Beirut port explosion will finally reach its conclusion this year. It is time for the families of the victims to get answers.

Yes, France will remain by Lebanon's side, in all fields.

And as my mission in Lebanon draws to a close, I can testify that France, alongside its partners in the European Union, whose pivotal role in maintaining the stability of this country must finally be recognized, has spared no effort, and has always been present, whether in times of crisis or in times of war.

This is also due to the collective work of 'Team France,' which I was honored to lead, and I would like to express to you my deep gratitude to all its members, with a special word of thanks to the staff of the Pine Palace who accompanied us throughout these three eventful years.

This evening, another French team will seek to reach the final match, and whatever the result, it has already given us a chance to dream, just as we can continue to dream of a Lebanon enjoying peace, looking forward with confidence to a better future for its wonderful youth.

We will remain by your side, have no doubt about that.

Long live France, long live Lebanon, and long live the French-Lebanese friendship."