Gueant: Some Political Parties Softened their Stances Following Saudi-Syrian Summit
French President Nicolas Sarkozy”s chief of staff has said good relations between Damascus and Paris are in the interest of Lebanon in which some politicians have lately softened their stances on the cabinet formation.
"Unfortunately the cabinet hasn”t been formed yet in Lebanon. However, there are some signs of changes in several stances," Gueant told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in an interview published Sunday.
"Some demands that were hindering government formation have been removed" following the agreement reached between Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier this month, Gueant said.
"I hope the government would be formed quickly in Lebanon," he added.
Asked about beliefs by some Lebanese that he is a friend of Syria and is not concerned about Lebanon, Gueant told al-Hayat: "I go to Syria a lot because I have built up a relationship with Syria and we preserve this important link. It is important for Lebanon and the region too."
"I have a special relationship with Syria. But it is mainly in the interest of Lebanon," he stressed.
Gueant said Syria does not have a huge influence on Lebanese political life or some political personalities as some try to characterize.
Asked if he thought a new war would erupt between Israel and Hizbullah with a Syrian green light, Gueant said: "I don”t see any sign that would make me believe that Syria wishes something like that to happen. I believe that peace and stability in Lebanon are in Syria”s interest."
The top French official also confirmed that Assad would visit Paris but said a date hasn”t been set yet.