2009 Elections Will Be International Community’s Center Of Attention
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told As-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on Sunday that his country and Saudi Arabia had the same objectives in Lebanon for ensuring its independence, sovereignty and stability and added that both countries agreed that Syria’s position in Lebanon should be positive. Kouchner said that he intends to visit the Kingdom, considering the importance of its role in the region.
He proposed sending a European delegation to control and organize the parliamentary elections in 2009, which he said will be the “center of attraction” of the international community.
Kouchner called for encouraging Damascus to express more openness, because recent Syrian actions related to both Lebanon and Iraq have shown promise, “but still we need to verify it.”
He said that the situation in Lebanon was improving and suggested that the “militias’ weapons” and Hezbollah’s weapons should be discusses over the roundtable dialogue under the auspices of President Michel Sleiman.
He added that Lebanon and Syria were both responsible for border demarcation and control and called for implementing the United Nations Resolution 1701, to pave the way for solving the issue of Shebaa Farms and Ghajar Village.