France sponsors meeting to relaunch national dialogue
Lebanon-Syria-France, Politics, 6/12/2007

French Foreign Ministry envoy Jean-Claude Cousseron has extended invitations to Lebanon's main political leaders to attend a meeting in Paris later this month to discuss a resumption of national dialogue in the country.

Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri, who met Cousseron, hailed France's initiative and its constant support of Lebanon.

Cousseron told reporters in Koreitem the roundtable meeting in Paris is an initiative of Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to reduce political tensions. He reaffirmed France's long-standing commitment to Lebanese independence, unity, and prosperity.

Meantime previously, Hariri said only dialogue between the opposition and the majority March 14 coalition in Parliament can resolve the prevailing crisis in Lebanon. He reiterated calls for national dialogue, without preconditions, to create a unity government and to draft a new electoral law, and said presidential elections should be held on time.


In an interview with the Saudi Okaz daily, Head of the Future Bloc pointed out that the majority in Parliament had invited the opposition to join the government, but the opposition insisted on blocking measures to create an international tribunal to try the suspects in Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s assassination and Lebanon’s commitment to the international community, especially UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He stressed that the country is in need of a clear political vision and a realistic plan to revive state institutions.

Hariri said he is still awaiting a response from opposition leaders to meet and discuss ways to overcome the crisis. He also told the Saudi newspaper the March 14 coalition wants to name a presidential candidate, but the opposition also has the right to choose a candidate, adding the majority is ready to discuss any serious proposal regarding a nominee for the presidency.

In response to a question on the recent UN vote to set up an international tribunal, Head of the Future Bloc said the court will protect Lebanon and bring stability to the country. He praised Arab and international backing for the tribunal, and said it aims at bringing an end to a campaign of killings “produced” by the Syrian regime to keep its control over Lebanon. He also cited the opposition’s obstruction of the tribunal through Lebanese institutions, and said the court will not put the country under international custodianship.

Hariri told Okaz those expressing concerns over such a possibility should not have received the orders of the Syrian regime to paralyze state institutions at the expense of the Lebanese, which at the end had a negative impact of the opposition.

Previous Stories:
  Hariri: Opposition preventing tribunal to protect Syrian regime   (4/23/2007)
  Granting opposition veto power amounts to political suicide   (4/2/2007)
  US House Speaker trip to Syria criticized by White House   (4/2/2007)
  Hariri: Israel violating UN resoltution   (10/23/2006)
  France: Lebanon is a humanitarian disaster   (8/3/2006)
  French PM visits Beirut to express solidarity with Lebanon   (7/17/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search