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News of theme "Public Aid for Development and International Cooperation"
16 April 2018 Press release

Gilles Tonelli Makes a Working Visit to Lebanon

Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the President of Lebanon, Mr. Michel Aoun  ©Dalati and Noha

From 9 to 13 April 2018, a Monegasque delegation*, led by Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, made a working visit to Lebanon in order to strengthen links of friendship

and cooperation between the two States. During this visit, the Monegasque delegation was received by the President of Lebanon, Mr. Michel Aoun.

Other meetings with the Lebanese authorities* were an opportunity to discuss partnerships that are supported by Monaco's Official Development Assistance in the fields of health, education and

the socioeconomic integration of the most vulnerable populations.

During this visit, Gilles Tonelli signed a memorandum of understanding with the MENA Regional Director of the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (EICD), Nicolas Pinton, in support of very small businesses in Northern Lebanon.

On the invitation of the Mérieux Foundation, the Lebanese NGO Amel and the Municipality of Douris, which is supported by Monaco, the Minister also took part in an official ceremony to lay the foundation stone of a Mother and Child Health Centre in Douris.

This Centre, which is located in the Bekaa plain, will make it possible to improve maternal and child health in the region.

As a reminder, bilateral cooperation between the two States was initiated in 1993.

In the current context of the Syrian crisis and international involvement in support of Lebanon, the Principality wished to direct part of its increased public aid to Development to benefit this country.  

Today, Lebanon is the No.1 host country in terms of the number of refugees in relation to its national population (1 refugee for every 3 Lebanese).

* The Monegasque delegation was comprised of:  Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bechara K. El Khoury, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Lebanon, Bénédicte Schutz, Director of International Cooperation, Emilie Larese-Silvestre,Programme Coordinator at the Department of International Cooperation, Elodie Martin, Head of Lebanon Programmes at the Department of International Cooperation and Joseph Hayek, Assistant to the Consul of Monaco in Lebanon.

** The President of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Saad Hariri, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Nabih Berri, the Minister of Public Health and Vice-Chairman of the Council,

Mr. Ghassan Hasbani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gebran Bassil, the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr. Marwan Hamadeh, Mr. Ramzi Nohra, Governor of the North and Mr. Bachir Khodr, Governor of Baalbek-Hermel

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https://en.gouv.mc/Policy-Practice/Monaco-Worldwide/Public-Aid-for-Development-and-International-Cooperation/News/Gilles-Tonelli-Makes-a-Working-Visit-to-Lebanon