NNA -nbsp;On Thursday, August 3, Transparency International ndash; Lebanon (TI-LB) marked the thirdnbsp;commemorationnbsp;of the tragic Beirut port explosion by organizing twonbsp;panel discussionsnbsp;at thenbsp;Gefinornbsp;Rotana Hotel. The focus of thesenbsp;discussionsnbsp;was to explore the process of adopting a comprehensive perspective of the Beirut port. The event was held in collaboration with thenbsp;August 4 Initiative and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
This meeting gathered representatives from the public and private sectors, the international community, local civil society, academics, and the media.nbsp;The discussion in the first panel revolved around the practical steps needed to push for an accountable and transparent investigation on the explosionnbsp;and to provide psychological support to aid in the recovery ofnbsp;affectednbsp;individuals. They also emphasizednbsp;the importance of integrating these concepts into educational curricula, recognizingnbsp;theirnbsp;potential to foster positive change and effectiveness in Lebanon.nbsp;Lama Fakih,nbsp;Director of the Middle East and North Africanbsp;Division andnbsp;Director of the Beirut office at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the need to remind Lebanese political and security officials of their responsibility for the crime of the Beirut port explosion,nbsp;and for obstructing the investigation and hindering thenbsp;judicial process.nbsp;The secondnbsp;panelnbsp;focused on promoting good governance to revitalize the functioning of the port. Enhancing transparency and reducing corruption were key goals, alongside reactivating the role of the private sector, which had been significantly impacted by the disaster.nbsp;The aim isnbsp;to build a shared vision for this essential public utility, which not only serves as a central pillar of Lebanon#39;s economic, financial, and touristicnbsp;identity butnbsp;whichnbsp;also stands as a symbol of resilience during thesenbsp;complexnbsp;times.nbsp;Franccedil;ois Valeacute;rian, board member of Transparency International, emphasized thenbsp;importancenbsp;of disclosing contracts related to public procurement by relevant public and private institutions. He also stressed on Transparency International ndash; Francersquo;s commitment tonbsp;supporting the efforts of Transparency International – Lebanon through submittingnbsp;a letter to the headquarters of CMA CGM in Marseille.
Given the pressing need to manage the port of Beirut in alignment with internationally accepted standards for port management, operation, and investment, it becomes crucial to align with economic, political, and administrative transformations essential for development. However, the utmost urgency lies in ensuring the adoption of good governance principles throughout the recovery of the entire port area. Transparency and active participation must be earnestly applied in the reconstruction process. In light of this,nbsp;we havenbsp;put forth the following recommendations:
1-nbsp;We urgenbsp;the 47 members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an international fact-finding commission for the August 4, 2020 Beirut Port explosion.
2-nbsp;We urge the Ministry of Public Works and CMA CGM (CMA Beirut Terminal) to disclose the contract signed between the company and the Interim Committee for the Management and Investment of the Port regarding the management of the container terminal. The company had officially received a request for information this morning from Transparency International – Lebanon to obtain a copy of the contract related to thenbsp;management, operation, and maintenance of the container terminal at the Port of Beirut, in accordance with the Right to Access Information Law.nbsp;
3-nbsp;Wenbsp;encourage the Lebanese Government and the International Community, to adopt a timely and accessible public communication approach pertaining to the process of the reconstruction of the Port of Beirut as per the guiding principles of the 3 Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction (3RF).
4-nbsp;We callnbsp;upon the Lebanese governmental and parliamentary concerned entities to eliminate all impediments affecting the domestic judicial process.
In the coming period, we reaffirm our commitment towardscollaborating with local civil society organizations to collectively advocate for the adoption of these recommendations, for it firmly believesnbsp;innbsp;rebuildingnbsp;the flesh before the stone.
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