24
Jun
2019
Discussions with Lazzarini on giving preference to Lebanese products by UN agencies Minister Abou Faour: "Current policies towards Syrians refugees are random and retaliatory. Their return is impeded by the absence of Syrian regime decision”
The Minister of Industry, Wael Abu Faour, met this afternoon with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), Philippe Lazzarini, and discussed ways to increase the procurement value of international organizations working in Lebanon from Lebanese production and prioritize the industrial and agricultural production sectors.
After the meeting, Lazzarini said: “I had a very constructive meeting with Minister of Industry, Wael Abou Faour. We discussed the importance of the UN agencies giving preference to Lebanese suppliers and Lebanese products in their procurement operations.
I told the minister that the support to Lebanon’s economy and Lebanese products is a priority for UN Lebanon. In the context of Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, nearly half a billion dollars were directly injected through cash programs by the UN in the Lebanese economy over the last year. This is spent in Lebanon in the form of food and non-food items purchased from Lebanese shops, payment of rent to Lebanese landlords, health care costs, school transportation, to name a few.
Through the cash program involving a network of 450 contracted shops across the country, the world food program alone injected 1.5 billion dollars in the local economy and an estimated 55% of food items purchased through this program in these shops are Lebanese food brands. As a direct impact of this program, 700 new jobs have been created by the contracted shops.
Additionally, I informed the minister that most of the goods and services procured by UN agencies are from Lebanese suppliers. For example, last year 98% of goods and services procured by UNHCR were through Lebanese suppliers and 90% of these goods and services were produced in Lebanon.
Same goes for World Food Program which procures Lebanese goods not only for its activities in Lebanon but also for its operations in Syria. I also told the minister that the UN disbursed in 2018, 240 million USD in support of public institutions to maintain basic services such as education, health and waste management. Finally, I told the minister that we will make sure that UN agencies funds and programs would continue to give preference to Lebanese products. A workshop will be soon organized with the association of industrialists to find best ways to enhance our collaboration on the matter.”
Minister Abou Faour
Abou Faour said: “It was a very productive meeting; it focused on giving preference to Lebanese products and Lebanese enterprises in the procurement of the international organizations operating in Lebanon. As you know, they are spending large sums to support and repatriate the displaced Syrians; a large section of this funding goes through Lebanese manufacturers, dealers and agents. This needs to be more organized and done in a clearer way.
In view of that, it was agreed to organize a joint workshop in mid-July between the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and UN organizations that sponsor the Ministry of Industry, to discuss procedures facilitation as the current obstruction lays in the international organizations special procedures, not known to a number of Lebanese industrialists.
We need to find a mechanism for bidding, and meeting bidding requirements and procedures. Mr. Lazzarini told me that the decision was taken to give preference to Lebanese industry and Lebanese agricultural products. I also learned that the World Food Program was providing food assistance to Syrians in Syria, procured from Lebanon. This is positive; I hope the workshop will provide advanced conclusions and results in providing opportunities, facilities, incentives and greater space for Lebanese production and economy in international procurement.”
Abou Faour added: “As for the current policy adopted by some parties on Syrian exodus to Lebanon, I would like to say that this issue has been problematic since Syrian refugees started flooding Lebanon. I recall, during cabinet discussions, a number of ministers vetoed the idea of setting up camps for refugees; I wish those would reconsider their position today to bear their share of responsibility.
Policies currently adopted towards Syrians refugees are unacceptable because they are in the first place random, secondly revanchist, and thirdly sectarian and partisan policies. The Council of Ministers has not taken any decision or formulated any plan to deal with the situation of Syrians refugees. The procedures carried out by certain state organs, be it security services or certain ministries are not agreed upon in the Council of Ministers.
We hear about a plan but till now none has been submitted to the cabinet. What we need is a national policy, not partisan or sectarian policies. Who said that pushing refugees into some Sunni areas is the solution to the exodus crisis? Who said that retaliatory measures instigating increased tension between the Lebanese and the displaced are the solution? Who said that Syrian incitement against the Lebanese and Lebanese against Syrian without any prospect of return to Syria is the solution? Most of those who carry out these policies do not have the approval of the Lebanese government because, until now, no plan has been submitted to the Lebanese government.
Besides, these policies are mainly carried out by allies of the Syrian regime. Only the Syrian regime has the definite solution for this crisis. The return of the refugees is not happening due to the absence of Syrian regime decision, to allow them to return. So why do we hold ourselves accountable?
Aren’t the allies of the Syrian regime in Lebanon those who carry out this indiscriminate campaign that provokes a Lebanese-Lebanese and Lebanese-Syrian conflict at a time where no solutions exist yet? Why do you do this if the Syrian regime, your ally, decided on ethnic and sectarian cleansing in Syria; Syrian refugees are not offered any guarantees to return to their country?
Let the allies of the Syrian regime provide guarantees for the return of displaced people. This alone will allow the return of thousands of refugees to Syria. The current setting with the difference between the two cases of Palestinian refugees and the Syrian refugees, reminds us of the historical practices that certain Lebanese have led towards the Palestinians, which spurted more tension, clashes, military action and even Lebanese civil wars.
I do not think this course of action is correct. I hope in the near future a plan would be submitted to the Lebanese government that would help Lebanon deal in a sensible and rational manner with the refugees’ crisis.
Let us not forget, there is a minister in charge of the refugees’ cause, the Minister of Social Affairs. Dealing with refugees’ crisis falls within his powers and legal responsibilities. The Minister of Social Affairs must be the focal point in this debate that should be brought before the Council of Ministers. Whereas, adopting such random policies only leads to more tension, populism and racism without offering any solutions. "