Sarkozy backs Lebanon unity effort

adminJune 7, 2008UncategorisedComments are off for this post

Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president, is visiting Lebanon as part of efforts to support national unity. The visit comes two weeks after Lebanese leaders sealed a power-sharing deal and elected Michel Sleiman as the country’s president, ending an 18-month political standoff which had erupted into deadly clashes. Sarkozy was greeted at Beirut airport on Saturday by President General Sleiman, Fouad Siniora, Lebanon’s prime minister, and Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker. Sarkozy’s delegation includes Francois Fillon, the prime minister; Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister; and Herve Morin, the defence minister. Sarkozy, heading a large delegation, arrived in Beirut for a one-day state visit. He became the first Western leader to visit the Lebanese capital since the election of President Michel Suleiman last month. Sarkozy was accompanied by Prime minister Fillon, senior ministers and leaders of all the main French political parties. He said his "exceptional" delegation reflected the strong bond between both countries.

Sarkozy held talks with Suleiman before a lunch at the presidential palace attended by leaders of the main Lebanese political parties. Later, at a luncheon hosted by President General Sleiman attended by Siniora and Berri, Sarkozy stressed his country’s support for Sleiman and Lebanese national unity. Sleiman had "a great responsibility to drive this national reconciliation forward", he said. "It is essential that all Lebanese political forces display their commitment to dialogue."

Reforms urged Sarkozy said that "once the institutions have stabilised, [Lebanon] must address the reconstruction of the state and the economy’s dynamism to open up to reforms". Sarkozy added that "once the institutions have stabilized, (Lebanon) must address the reconstruction of the state and the economy’s dynamism to open up to reforms that will allow Lebanon to benefit from what was acquired in Paris III." Turning to security issues, Sarkozy said France remains "committed to strengthening the capacities of the Lebanese army within the framework of a national defense strategy to be established through sincere dialogue among the Lebanese that can no longer be delayed."For his part, Suleiman said the "Doha agreement, in which France took part, has regenerated long-awaited and desired political stability". He said that Lebanon is reforming its constitutional, judicial and other institutions in order to regain its role in the world. Sleiman stressed Lebanon’s commitment to fight "terrorism and all forms of extremism". He said that any internal disagreement will be resolved through dialogue.

Military assistance Sarkozy said France remained "committed to strengthening the capacities of the Lebanese army within the framework of a national defence strategy to be established through sincere dialogue … that can no longer be delayed". Sarkozy’s office said France would provide training to the Lebanese army as part of its economic assistance programme. A planned visit by the delegation to the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was cancelled, however, to keep the visit "a purely political" one, according to the Elysee. Instead, Morin was to visit the French contingent of 1,800 soldiers, which is the second largest contingent in the south Lebanon-based peacekeeping force.

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Syria contacts

On a related issue, Sarkozy has indicated "a new page may be opening" in relations with Damascus that Paris suspended during the crisis.

A source close to his office said two senior envoys would soon visit Syria.

In an interview published on Friday in Lebanese dailies, Sarkozy recalled Paris had said it "would resume contacts with Syria only when positive, concrete developments occurred in Lebanon with a view to getting out of the crisis.

"One has to concede that the Doha accord, the election of President Sleiman and the return of Fouad Siniora as prime minister are such developments," he said.

"I have drawn the conclusions and I have called [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad to tell him of my desire to see the carrying out of the accord continue."

Show of support

Earlier, Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut, said: "Sarkozy’s visit is really a show if support for Lebanon, the Lebanese people and the newly elected president."

Sarkozy was unlikely to unveil any strategy to help Lebanese leaders form a new cabinet, she said.

"Sarkozy is not really expected to take any practical measures to help Lebanon’s leaders form a national unity government," Khodr said, "but he is here to give his blessing to the agreeement reached in [the Qatari capital] Doha which ended the political crisis."

The French delegation is set to meet leaders of 14 Lebanese political parties, including Hezbollah.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) and his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman at a ceremony at Beirut airport. Sarkozy has expressed France’s support for the newly-elected Lebanese president and for efforts to promote national unity during a brief visit to the country.(AFP/Remy de la Mauviniere)

AFP via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 6:51 AM

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman (R) meeting with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. Sarkozy has expressed France’s support for the newly-elected Lebanese president and for efforts to promote national unity during a brief visit to the country.(AFP)

AFP via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 6:48 AM

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) and his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleimane after the French leader’s arrival at Beirut airport. Sarkozy has expressed France’s support for Lebanon’s newly-elected president and for efforts to promote national unity during a brief visit to the country.(AFP/Remy de la Mauviniere)

AFP via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 6:51 AM

Lebanese and French flags and a poster of assassinated Hezbollah chief Imad Mughnieh on the highway leading to Beirut airport. French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Lebanon in a show of support for his newly elected counterpart, Michel Sleiman, and for efforts to promote national unity after months of often deadly political crisis.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)

Jean-Daniel Levitte (L), France’s Elysee Palace advisor for diplomacy, speaks with Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri (C) and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt (R) prior to an official lunch at the Presidential Palace in Baabda June 7, 2008. France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is on a one-day visit to Lebanon and is accompanied by French political party leaders. REUTERS/Gerard Cerles/Pool (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 6:40 AM

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 6:36 AM

France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) is greeted by his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman, at his arrival at Beirut airport June 7, 2008. Nicolas Sarkozy is on a one-day official visit to Lebanon. (Remy de la Mauviniere/Pool/Reuters)

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (L) listens to former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel (C) as Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora reads a paper prior to an official lunch at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, southeast of Beirut, June 7, 2008. France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is on a one-day visit to Lebanon and is accompanied by French political party leaders. REUTERS/Gerard Cerles/Pool (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 5:30 AM

French centrist party Modem head Francois Bayrou (L) and former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (C) speak with Lebanese opposition leader and MP Michel Aoun prior to an official lunch at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, southeast of Beirut, on June 7, 2008. France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Lebanon on a one-day visit with leaders of France’s political parties. REUERS/Gerard Cerles/Pool (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 6:24 AM

French Socialist leader Francois Hollande (L) listens to Lebanese Druze leader and Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) chief Walid Jumblatt during an official lunch at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, southeast of Beirut June 7, 2008. France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is on a one-day visit to Lebanon and is accompanied by French political party leaders. REUTERS/Gerard Cerles/Pool (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 5:26 AM

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (front R) reviews the honour guard with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy (front L) upon their arrival at the Presidential Palace in Baabda June 7, 2008. REUTERS/Gerard Cerles/Pool (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 4:27 AM

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (R) greets France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy during a welcome ceremony upon Sarkozy’s arrival at Beirut international airport June 7, 2008. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi (Lebanon

French and Lebanese flags decorate the main road to the airport in Beirut June 6, 2008. Sarkozy will visit Lebanon to meet counterpart Michel Suleiman on Saturday. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)

France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) delivers a speech at the French Embassy in Beirut June 7, 2008. Sarkozy is surrounded by (L-R) presidential party UMP General Secretary Patrick Devedjian, Centrist party MoDem President Francois Bayrou, Socialist Parti First Secretary Francois Hollande, Green Party leader Cecile Duflot and Communist Party National Secretary Marie-George Buffet. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/Pool (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 5:38 AM

The French delegation attend a welcome ceremony for President Nicolas Sarkozy at Beirut airport June 7, 2008. (L-R) French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, Defence Minister Herve Morin, former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, French centrist party MoDem President Francois Bayrou, UMP presidential party leader Jean-Francois Cope, UMP General Secretary Patrick Devedjian and French Socialist Parti First Secretary Francois Hollande. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (LEBANON)

Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 07 2:52 AM