Eichhorst Reveals Strong International Understanding on Lebanon

European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst said an understanding was reached by the international community on the safety and security of Lebanon, stressing the importance of forming a new government and respecting constitutional deadlines.

“We have reiterated that we hope you would form a government because there is an important international understanding on Lebanon, which should protect the country,” Eichhorst told An Nahar daily in an interview published on Tuesday.

“Some foreign parties such as The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Jabhat al-Nusra have their own agenda to create instability but this does not overshadow the international understanding,” she said.

When asked whether she thought internal or regional obstacles were the reason behind the cabinet stalemate, the diplomat said: “Everything's related to each other, we can't deny that.”

“But our stance is clear that it is important to reach an understanding and before that there should be a deal on the willingness to reach an understanding” among the rival parties, she said.

Eichhorst told An Nahar that the EU does not interfere in the cabinet formation process but called on certain parties to make concessions to facilitate the task of Premier-designate Tammam Salam, who has been unable for the past 10 months to come up with a line-up.

Asked whether there was also an international understanding on the need to hold the presidential elections on time, the ambassador said: “Although Lebanon is not officially on the agenda of the EU foreign ministers today, they do discuss its constitutional deadlines and their respect.”

“We hope that through our support to the Lebanese people, there would be a respect for the constitution,” she said.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends in May this year.

“Our major focus today is security. That's why the EU is granting the Lebanese Armed Forces a major support,” she said.

Eichhorst stressed that Lebanese security agencies were pursuing extremists and bringing them to justice to make sure there is no impunity.

She expressed confidence that they would keep the situation under control and said she was optimistic that Lebanon could overcome this difficult stage.