Lebanese forces: Richard statements flagrant intervention in Lebanese affairs

Three days after statements made by French Defense Minister Alain Richard to Radio France-Inter which raised a vast controversy as he talked about the "Syrian hegemony on Lebanon," Lebanese- French relations have witnessed a tension similar to that prevailed when the French Premier Lionel Jospin made statements in Israel against the Lebanese resistance.

SANA stated in this regard that a group of Lebanese national parties and forces asserted that the stances advocated by the French defense minister are a flagrant intervention in the internal affairs of Lebanon and a violation of its sovereignty. These parties, which held a special meeting at the headquarters of the Syrian National Socialist Party on Thursday, asserted that "these stances reflect positions which serve the Zionist interest, comply with the biased US stand toward Israel and violate the principles of the French position which backs the right of Lebanon to resistance in order to liberate its lands."

The Lebanese parties considered the explanations released by the spokesman for the French foreign ministry that Richard's statements are not an embodiment to the French stances as insufficient and said that therefore the state of France has to release an official explanation of Richard's statements.

The Lebanese national parties and forces stressed that the relations between Syria and Lebanon are those built on common history and destiny.