Sarkozy Encourages Suleiman, Hariri to Form “Stable” Government
French President Nicolas Sarkozy again encouraged efforts undertaken by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to form a stable government.
Sarkozy stressed in separate telephone calls to Suleiman and Hariri over the weekend that France remains a friend of Lebanon and all the Lebanese, reiterating France”s commitment to Lebanon”s independence and sovereignty.
A statement issued by the Elysee Palace said Sarkozy was briefed by both Suleiman and Hariri on the Lebanon situation amid continuing consultations aimed at forming a government.
Daily Asharq al-Awsat said Paris is "committed to a cautious stance on the issue of the Lebanon government because it wants to avoid accusations of interference in Lebanese internal affairs from one hand, and on the other because it does not want the issue of overcoming the problem of the new government to weaken Lebanese institutions and show Lebanon unable to tackle its own plights or that it is in constant need foreign help."
Sarkozy”s interest in the formation of a new Lebanon government comes on the eve of a trip to New York by Suleiman to attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting.
Suleiman is expected to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem to discuss regional issues, including the Lebanese Cabinet crisis and the possibility that Damascus will help in facilitating the creation of a unity government in view of last week”s telephone call between the Lebanese and Syrian presidents.