Yesterday, the French ambassador in charge of coordinating international support to Lebanon, Pierre Duquesne, began a visit to Beirut, which began with a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Ministers of Energy Walid Fayyad and Ministers of Works Ali Hamiyah and Minister of Finance Youssef Al-Khalil, provided that he meets at the headquarters of the French embassy today experts, employees, politicians and economists.
According to the information, the talks of Dokan, who arrived in Beirut after Egypt and Jordan, to explore the results of their negotiations with Lebanon, focused on the energy file. He announced before his arrival in Beirut that his talks with the Egyptian side showed that the failure of the United States to grant exemptions from the Caesar Act is what delays the extraction of gas from Egypt and electricity from Jordan. Noting that the World Bank was quick to acquit the American side, as the World Bank delegation, which met with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab the day before yesterday in Washington, confirmed that the loan is currently frozen and is not on the bank’s agenda because it has not completed all the required electricity reforms, without linking The Caesar Act Sanctions File.
However, the French ambassador reported, in the meeting he had with Mikati and Fayyad, that he heard in Cairo and Amman praise for what the Ministry of Energy accomplished last year with regard to meeting the conditions required by the United States and the World Bank, or the details of the contract that will provide electricity at low prices because the price is linked to crude oil, not gas. Oil. He was also briefed by the Minister of Energy on all contracts and documents completed by the Ministry and the World Bank. These are documents proving that Lebanon has reached the final stage of the negotiations, which was supposed to be crowned with signing before it was suspended at a direct American request. Sources reported that Dukan, the sender, expressed his surprise at what he heard, indicating that he would dispel American doubts when he visited the United States soon and clarify the obstacles that obstructed the agreement. Dukan confirmed that Paris will seek the American side and the World Bank to overcome these obstacles, provided that the Lebanese government takes a quick step regarding the regulatory body.
However, it was not known whether the French had obtained a mandate to discuss this matter, or if it was part of a game of pressure on Lebanon regarding the identity of the new prime minister, and regarding the cooperation program with the International Monetary Fund. Note that Paris is currently interested in strengthening its investment presence in Lebanon, by submitting offers to operate basic sectors and facilities, either through special contracts with French companies or by purchasing shares in private
In this context, reference was made to French interest in some sectors that are candidates for full or partial privatization, especially Middle East Airlines, for which the Banque du Liban is conducting studies to determine its market value, based on the profits transferred by the company to the Banque du Liban (the owner of the company) for a year. 2020, which amounted to about $60 million. According to preliminary information, work is underway to determine the value of the company at more than one billion dollars, provided that a law will be drawn up to sell about 49 percent of its shares. Sources indicate the desire of the giant French transport company (CGM), managed by the Lebanese-French businessman Rodolphe Saade, which in the past three years has expanded its work from sea freight to air transport and achieved profits of more than $10 billion, to acquire a large stake in the Middle East. .
The French are also interested in investing in the postal sector by purchasing the Lebanon Post company or obtaining an operating contract for it, in addition to the Casino du Liban and banks owned by the Central Bank, in addition to interest in the Electricité du Liban and the port after CGM won the contract to manage the container headquarters, while other French companies are offering Comprehensive port management project. Add to this the French central interest in the oil and gas file through the alliance led by Total, which is the key to French investments. The French are optimistic that they will have the upper hand in managing this file, if they manage the presidential elections well and get what they want about the identity of the candidate to head the new government.
Therefore, Dokan's visit comes on the eve of the five-party meeting (France, the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar) scheduled to be held in Paris next Monday, to discuss the Lebanese file, from which Lebanese political parties expect a reference to the candidate whom the conferees believe is closest to the specifications of the Western-Arab alliance. And that the meeting may pave the way for announcing support for the candidacy of the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun.