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WORLD> Middle East
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Sarkozy urges reconciliation on Lebanon visit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2008-06-07 21:42 BEIRUT - French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Lebanese leaders on Saturday to seal reconciliation through dialogue and commitment to an agreement that has pulled the country back from the brink of civil war.
Sarkozy, heading a large delegation, visited Beirut for five hours to become the first Western leader to visit Beirut since the election of President Michel Suleiman last month. Lebanon's political crisis was defused by a Qatari-mediated agreement in Doha after the worst bout of internal fighting since the 1975-1990 civil war. Suleiman was elected in line with the deal but leaders have so far struggled to form a national unity government. "The Doha agreement improved the situation and led to national reconciliation. President Suleiman has a major responsibility to make this reconciliation succeed," Sarkozy said at Beirut airport. "All sides must implement their commitments through dialogue," the French president said with Suleiman by his side. He added that the Lebanese must look forward to "a future based on dialogue". Sarkozy held talks with Suleiman before a lunch at the presidential palace attended by leaders of the main Lebanese political parties, including the head of the parliamentary bloc of the Hezbollah group. "The painful crisis is behind us," Suleiman said at the lunch. "The Doha agreement ... has re-established political stability in Lebanon which encourages us to revive the role of constitutional institutions. "Inside these institutions and through dialogue all political differences will be resolved," Suleiman said. French peacekeepers Sarkozy was accompanied by Prime Minister Francois 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 pledged support to the Lebanese government and armed forces but he gave few details. French Defence Minister Herve Morin also visited French peacekeepers in south Lebanon. France has 1,600 troops in the UN force deployed on the border with Israel. |
