Sarkozy to visit Lebanon, Not Syria
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to visit Lebanon early next month for talks with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.
The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Sarkozy, who is scheduled to arrive in Beirut on Jan. 6, is to inspect his troops serving with the U.N. Interim Force in south Lebanon.
Sarkozy”s trip, according to the report, would not include a visit to Syria.
The French head of state would discuss with Suleiman preparations for the two-day visit to Paris by the Lebanese head of state scheduled for March 16.
Sarkozy”s Beirut mission would also include an assessment of progress achieved in Lebanese-Syrian relations in line with what Suleiman and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad agreed on in Damascus last July.