I Will Meet All Leaders, Including Hizbullah Representative
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who arrived in Beirut on Thursday, is scheduled to discuss with Lebanese leaders Beirut-Damascus ties, border demarcation and regional peace efforts during his two-day visit.
Cabinet formation is "an internal issue," Kouchner said upon arrival at Rafik Hariri international airport. "They (the Lebanese) can form their government without anybody”s help."
He added that he will meet with "all Lebanese leaders and representatives from Hizbullah, which is represented in parliament."
On Friday, Kouchner will meet with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, PM-designate Saad Hariri, caretaker Premier Fouad Saniora, Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun, Phalange chief Amin Gemayel, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and a Hizbullah representative, who will most probably be MP Mohammed Raad.
The French foreign ministry has announced that Kouchner will not discuss the issue of cabinet formation because it is an internal matter.
Diplomatic sources have said the foreign minister will touch upon the issues of French-Lebanese ties, Lebanese-Syrian relations, the problem of Lebanese detainees in Syria, demarcation of the border and U.S. efforts to restart peace talks in the region.
"France supports Lebanon in all areas," Kouchner told reporters at the airport. "President (Nicolas) Sarkozy is comfortable with relations between France and Syria."
Kouchner attended a concert by French singer Charles Aznavour in Beiteddine on Thursday night and met with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat there.
The French foreign minister travels to Damascus on Saturday.