France Pressing toward Exchange of Embassies between Beirut and Damascus
France on Monday was reportedly pressing on toward the achievement of exchange of diplomatic ties between Lebanon and Syria.
The pan-Arab daily Al Hayat said the "surprise" move by France toward Lebanon was the result of discussions in Jeddah on Saturday between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
Al Hayat quoted sources as saying that the Lebanon situation was tackled during the Sarkozy-Abdullah talks in light of Syrian President Bashar Assad”s commitment to the French president toward respect of Lebanon”s stability and sovereignty, particularly with regards to exchange of ambassadors before year-end.
The daily said the issue of the exchange of ambassadors is likely to be put on "high fire" in the coming days, especially since President Michel Suleiman had repeatedly said that the Lebanese-Syrian embassy exchange will take place before the end of the year.
The sources, however, raised fear that Syria could "take its time" in a diplomatic exchange under the excuse that the Lebanon government has not picked its ambassador to Damascus.
Meanwhile, ministerial sources told An Nahar newspaper that the coming three weeks would witness the exchange of ambassadors between Lebanon and Syria.
Sources, however, said the Lebanese Cabinet was still examining candidates for the ambassadorial post.