Sarkozy”s New Year Gift to Lebanon
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to visit Lebanon on Jan. 6 for bilateral assessment with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman on progress achieved by Damascus in engaging Beirut.
Sarkozy would also visit the French contingent serving with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and would address a message of New Year greetings to French troops operating overseas, in a precedent reflecting the importance Paris attaches to Lebanon”s independence, sovereignty and stability, according to the al-Balad daily.
New Year greetings to French Troops serving overseas had been traditionally addressed from Paris.
"Sarkozy”s unprecedented move reaffirms France”s commitment to Lebanon and reflects a message that pledges and commitments regarding respect for Lebanon”s sovereignty and non-intervention in its domestic affairs should be honored," the report said.
The report, attributed to a diplomatic source, said Sarkozy would probably declare a French initiative regarding Middle East peace, covering tracks that had been dormant for a long time." It did not elaborate.