Sisi: Lebanon capable of rising from current setback, return prosperous and unique

CAIRO – 4 August 2021: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday said Lebanon is still capable of rising from the current setback and returning as prosperous and unique as we like to see, according to presidential spokesman Bassam Radi.

Sisi’s remarks came as he took part via video in the international conference to raise funds to support Lebanon's humanitarian needs, co-hosted by France and the United Nations.

Sisi addressed the Lebanese people during the virtual conference, saying the country has been a beacon of culture, art and thought and a prominent tributary of Arab ingenuity.

“Lebanon, which has always been a beacon of culture, art and thought and important tributary of Arab ingenuity, is still able with the determination of its sons to rise from the current setback and return again to be prosperous and unique as we like to see it,” Radi quoted the president as saying.

“Egypt's hands are extended to the international community to unite and harness all the capabilities to support Lebanon and build a better future for its people,” Sisi added.

The international conference on Lebanon seeks to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to support the Lebanese humanitarian needs estimated by the UN to be at least $375 million, a French official told the Associated Press.

The UN says more than half of the Lebanese people now live in poverty and one in three Lebanese suffer from food insecurity a year after a massive blast at Beirut’s port destroyed property damage worth $15 billion.

In his opening remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country will provide 100 million euros during the upcoming months to Lebanon.

Sisi, US President Joe Bidem, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, King Abdullah II of Jordan and European Council President Charles Michel are among the attendees.