Strong EU support for Lebanon at Stockholm conference, Gaza also on the agenda
Press release 333/2006
31 August, 2006
Paula Lehtomäki, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, confirmed at a Lebanon conference held in Stockholm on 31 August that the European Union will strongly support Lebanon's recovery from the devastating war. The Lebanese government will have a central coordinating role in this process. "It is important that Lebanon's political leadership takes the driving seat as the reconstruction begins. The country's development has to lie in the hands of the Lebanese themselves. They will nevertheless need strong assistance from the international community, and the European Union is willing and able to offer this support", Lehtomäki emphasised.
The Lebanese Prime Minister, representatives of the United Nations, the EU member states and the European Commission, as well as representatives of the governments of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Japan and the United States, among others, attended the Stockholm conference.
The European Union and its member states gave Lebanon about 120 million euros in humanitarian aid during the hostilities. As the country gradually moves into the early stage of reconstruction, the Union and its member states will increase their assistance. Minister Lehtomäki announced in Stockholm that Finland will assist Lebanon's reconstruction with an additional 3 million euros. This aid will be allocated for humanitarian demining, repairing oil damages and relief work in the social sector. Earlier during the hostilities Finland gave Lebanon 1,5 million euros in humanitarian aid.
A conference on the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories will be held in Stockholm on 1 September. As the crisis in Lebanon has progressed, the European Union has highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation particularly in Gaza. Finland has assisted the UN's relief work among Palestinian refugees with 4.1 million euros during this year. Finland is preparing to announce a further 1.5 million euros in aid for the Palestinian territories at the conference on 1 September.
Further information: Counsellor Sofie From-Emmesberger, tel. +358 9 1605 5406, or special adviser Satu Mäki, tel. + 358 9 1605 6306