We welcome today’s announcement on the formation of a new Lebanese Government. This comes after many months of wrangling and marks an important milestone on the path out of the numerous complex crises which have been destabilising the country for some time now. It is a first step and it is vital that further tangible progress follows quickly. Lebanon is facing huge challenges and the Government must tackle them right away. The Lebanese people’s demands that urgently needed reforms be implemented and that the talks with the International Monetary Fund be resumed can and must finally be met. The Government has a responsibility to take on these challenges now.