National News Agency
Head of the Lebanese Peace Party, Attorney Roger Edde, received on Sunday German Ambassador to Lebanon, Andreas Kindl, and his wife at his home in Edde - Jbeil, with talks touching on the general prevailing situation in Lebanon, and the implications of the assassination of activist Lokman Slim on liberties.
After the meeting, Kindl described the country’s situation during the past six months as "difficult", calling on the Lebanese parties to "agree to form a government."
"Germany does not interfere in the government formation and this is not our business. Rather, as a member country of the European Union, we call and insist on forming the government to carry out reforms, but we do not interfere with names," he said.
Referring to the delay in the Beirut Port blast investigation, the German Ambassador expressed his understanding towards the secrecy of said investigation, and also towards the people’s rage for not being well-informed of its course, hoping that the case will reach satisfactory results. “I am not in a position to criticize any party or side, but I hope that the investigation will be transparent and independent in order to reach a clear conclusion that satisfies everyone," said Kindl.
Over his country’s support to Lebanon, he said: "Germany is the second largest supporter of Lebanon since 2012 and will continue with this support, and we hope that the aid will reach the needy Lebanese directly, and this year it has reached three million Euros."
Regarding the assassination of Lebanese activist Lokman Slim, Kindl said: “He is a friend, his wife is German and a friend, and therefore I am personally shocked. I visited the family home repeatedly this week, and I ask how a cowardly criminal can kill an educated and active person like Lokman.” He added: “I hope that the investigation will be transparent, and we are ready for any support that the Lebanese authorities may request so that the investigation can reach a quick conclusion and identify the perpetrators…Despite the history of investigations into political assassinations in Lebanon, I hope a conclusion will be reached this time."
For his part, Edde highlighted Germany's balanced role at the European level, being the most influential country within the European community.
He also pointed to "the existing coordination with the American administration and President Biden's work team on one hand, and the European and Arab group on the other hand, for the sake of presenting an option to form a transitional government in Lebanon from outside what is currently being discussed in this regard, in wake of the prevailing economic and political situation in the country; and to develop the Lebanese constitutional system based on what the Taif Agreement offered in terms of abolishing sectarianism in exchange for federal decentralization between the provinces, far-reaching Lebanon - the Switzerland of the East.”
Over Slim’s assassination, Edde stressed "the need for a speedy investigation to find out who assassinated activist Lokman Slim, who shed his blood for the sake of the battle for freedoms in Lebanon."
As for the investigations into the port explosion, he said: "As long as Hezbollah is present with its weapons and its state within the state, there is nothing called an independent judiciary in Lebanon. I expect that the change will be for the better towards Lebanon with the new American president and his team that knows well the Lebanese dossier, in addition to the Iranian file and all Arab files. I hope that the dossier on Lebanon and Syria will be entrusted to Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman.”
After the meeting, Kindl described the country’s situation during the past six months as "difficult", calling on the Lebanese parties to "agree to form a government."
"Germany does not interfere in the government formation and this is not our business. Rather, as a member country of the European Union, we call and insist on forming the government to carry out reforms, but we do not interfere with names," he said.
Referring to the delay in the Beirut Port blast investigation, the German Ambassador expressed his understanding towards the secrecy of said investigation, and also towards the people’s rage for not being well-informed of its course, hoping that the case will reach satisfactory results. “I am not in a position to criticize any party or side, but I hope that the investigation will be transparent and independent in order to reach a clear conclusion that satisfies everyone," said Kindl.
Over his country’s support to Lebanon, he said: "Germany is the second largest supporter of Lebanon since 2012 and will continue with this support, and we hope that the aid will reach the needy Lebanese directly, and this year it has reached three million Euros."
Regarding the assassination of Lebanese activist Lokman Slim, Kindl said: “He is a friend, his wife is German and a friend, and therefore I am personally shocked. I visited the family home repeatedly this week, and I ask how a cowardly criminal can kill an educated and active person like Lokman.” He added: “I hope that the investigation will be transparent, and we are ready for any support that the Lebanese authorities may request so that the investigation can reach a quick conclusion and identify the perpetrators…Despite the history of investigations into political assassinations in Lebanon, I hope a conclusion will be reached this time."
For his part, Edde highlighted Germany's balanced role at the European level, being the most influential country within the European community.
He also pointed to "the existing coordination with the American administration and President Biden's work team on one hand, and the European and Arab group on the other hand, for the sake of presenting an option to form a transitional government in Lebanon from outside what is currently being discussed in this regard, in wake of the prevailing economic and political situation in the country; and to develop the Lebanese constitutional system based on what the Taif Agreement offered in terms of abolishing sectarianism in exchange for federal decentralization between the provinces, far-reaching Lebanon - the Switzerland of the East.”
Over Slim’s assassination, Edde stressed "the need for a speedy investigation to find out who assassinated activist Lokman Slim, who shed his blood for the sake of the battle for freedoms in Lebanon."
As for the investigations into the port explosion, he said: "As long as Hezbollah is present with its weapons and its state within the state, there is nothing called an independent judiciary in Lebanon. I expect that the change will be for the better towards Lebanon with the new American president and his team that knows well the Lebanese dossier, in addition to the Iranian file and all Arab files. I hope that the dossier on Lebanon and Syria will be entrusted to Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman.”
