There is Urgency to Form a Cabinet because Regional Situation is Not Good
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner described the regional situation as "not good" on Friday saying it was urgent to form a government in Lebanon to confront existing challenges.
"It is very urgent for the government to be formed because the regional situation is not good" and the peace process is not moving forward, Kouchner said following talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.
"I heard from President Michel Suleiman that the cabinet would be formed soon based on the 15-10-5 formula," he said.
Lebanon is in need of a government in which all sects are represented, Kouchner told reporters.
He also offered Lebanon assistance to form the cabinet. Kouchner stressed, however, that the Lebanese can”t rely solely on France to form a government.
"It is not up to France to form your government and we have not come to give lessons, but we are worried.
"You cannot continue this way. You are promoting all the most dangerous trends in the region … At stake are your security and the unity and freedom of Lebanon," he said.
"I hope things would move forward," Kouchner said after the 45-minute talks with Suleiman, adding there were internal as well as foreign reasons preventing cabinet formation.
Foreign countries should "abide by their commitments," he stressed.
On regional contacts, Kouchner described the meeting between Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier this month as "important." But said: "We can”t expect immediate results."
"Have you ever seen a Lebanese government formed quickly? Of course not," Kouchner added.
Earlier Friday, the French foreign minister held separate talks with his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat.
From Baabda, Kouchner headed to Ain el-Tineh for talks with Speaker Nabih Berri and later met with Caretaker PM Fouad Saniora at the Grand Serail.
Following talks with PM-designate Saad Hariri at Center House at noon Friday, Kouchner said: "The international community should witness the birth of a new stable government in a stable and friendly Lebanon."
Asked if Syria has abided by its commitments on Lebanon, Kouchner said: "Syria didn”t influence the formation of the cabinet."