Lebanese officials pledge to prevent military acts through Lebanese territories

An official French source told the Lebanese al-Mustaqbil magazine that the Lebanese officials asserted to the French delegate Yves Aubin de La Messuziere during his recent visit to Beirut that they will spare no efforts in order to not carry out military acts through the borders with the Lebanese territories but under the condition that Israel is not to bombard Lebanese civilians.

The paper added that a French observer, in light of the recent developments in the Lebanon and the situation in the region highlighted several matters. These include a great French interest in the Syrian role. Such an interest was manifested by choosing Syria as the first station in his recent visit to the Middle East, a deep political understanding to Syria's stances concerning developments pertaining to the Middle East peace process, breaking the ice in the Lebanese - French relations, obvious French neglect of outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and great French interest on the role that might be played by incoming Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to restore warmth to the tense relations between Paris and Tel Aviv.

The source commented, "All these will result in continued effective French role in the region."