Pietton: French Support for Lebanon Will Continue Even if French UNIFIL Troops are Reduced

French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton stressed on Tuesday the need to keep Lebanon away from regional tensions, asserting that France will maintain its support for Lebanon even if it reduces the number of its troops in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

He said after holding talks with Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abu Faour that UNIFIL’s peacekeeping unit is conducting a strategic revision of the participation in the international force.

He said that all participating countries are involved in the revision, as well as Lebanon.

The ambassador revealed that civil and military members of the peacekeeping mission have visited Lebanon as part of the revision process.

This matter is connected to the implementation of U.N. Security Council 1701 and France is committed to it fully, Pietton added.

Furthermore, he said that different ways to implement the decision are being studied.

A French official will visit Lebanon soon to follow up on these issues, he revealed.

The downsizing of French troops will not affect the country’s ties with Lebanon as it is tradition for France to always stand by Lebanon, Pietton stressed.

Five French soldiers and two civilians were wounded on Friday by a powerful roadside bomb that targeted a UNIFIL patrol in the southern coastal city of Tyre.

France has decided to decrease the number of its troops serving with UNIFIL despite pledges by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon that last week’s attack on his country’s peacekeepers would not dampen Paris’ commitment to the mission, An Nahar daily reported Tuesday.

Lebanese leaders were officially informed about the French decision on Monday, said the daily.