Paoli Says France Seeking to Ease Presidential Impasse, Considers Lebanon a 'Priority'

France urged Lebanon and Israel to exercise self-restraint to prevent any escalation along the border, stressing that Paris encourages the Lebanese political foes to end the presidential deadlock.

“France prioritizes Lebanon's” concerns, French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli stressed in an interview published in An Nahar newspaper on Saturday.

The diplomat expressed grave concern over the recent incidents along Lebanon's southern border, hoping that no further escalation would occur.

He pointed out that his country will not withdraw from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), saying: “The matter is out of the question.”

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and seven wounded on Wednesday in a Hizbullah attack on a military convoy in the occupied Shebaa Farms.

The attack prompted Israel to shell areas in southern Lebanon in a significant escalation along the volatile border.

Hizbullah said in its claim of responsibility that it targeted several vehicles transporting officers and soldiers with missiles to avenge the Israeli raid on Syria's Quneitra that killed six of its fighters and a top Iranian general.

Asked about the role played by France to facilitate the election of a new head of state in Lebanon, Paoli told his interviewer that the “final decision belongs to the Lebanese.”

“France considers the election of a new president an urgent matter that the country (Lebanon) cannot ignore,” the diplomat noted, adding that there's no veto on any name.

Paoli pointed out that the decision to elect a new president is a “pure Lebanese decision” as the U.S., Russia, the Islamic State of Iran and Saudi Arabia can only agree to push forward the matter to end the stalemate.

“The sharp difference between the Lebanese is impeding the elections... parliamentary sessions set to elect a new head of state will not lead anywhere if the rival blocs don't attend them,” the French official remarked.

Lebanon has been left without a president since May, when the tenure of President Michel Suleiman ended, because of sharp differences between the rival March 8 and March 14 alliances.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is still the candidate of the March 8 camp in the face of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, the nominee of the March 14 forces.

Paoli revealed that Director of the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry Jean-François Girault will visit Lebanon soon to tackle the ongoing crisis with the arch-foes.

The visit comes in light of Girault's recent talks in Riyadh, Tehran, Washington and the Vatican over the presidential crisis in Lebanon. He also met with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.

Media reports said last week that the French official decided to suspend his endeavors to reach a breakthrough regarding the presidential stalemate in Lebanon unless new developments occur.

Girault last visited Lebanon in December, where he met during his two-day visit prominent Lebanese officials.

The French diplomat was tasked by French President Francois Hollande to try to reach a breakthrough over the presidential elections in Lebanon.