Unease in Lebanese - French ties

Lebanese sources told ArabicNews.com that France directed an invitation to the Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Saghir to pay an official visit to Paris soon.

The sources said the invitation that was directed to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is still ongoing, but the sources ruled out any such visit soon pointing to a coolness in bilateral relations.

Lahoud did not show any response to Chirac's approval to his election.

The sources added that in spite of the French anticipation, there is exchanging visit on the ministerial level as French Minister of Culture Catherine Trautmann is to visit Lebanon soon in response to a visit paid to France by Lebanese Minister of Culture Mohammed Yousef Beydoun.