Visiting Austrian chancellor says Vienna ready to help rebuild Beirut port
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met Thursday with President Michel Aoun after visiting the blast-hit Beirut port, telling reporters that Austria is willing to contribute to its reconstruction once a reform-minded government is in place in Lebanon.
"Austria offered to support Lebanon to rebuild the harbor with other EU member states because the harbor is important, especially with the (current) food crisis," he said.
Lebanon's cash-strapped government has not yet put in place a reconstruction plan for the heavily damaged port. Over a year ago, a consortium of German firms presented a proposal to rebuild the port, but nothing came of it.
Earlier this year, the Lebanese government contracted a French shipping company to run the ports' container terminal.
Source: Associated Press
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