Pietton: Protection of Lebanon from Regional Developments Vital after Geagea’s Attempted Murder

French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton said Saturday that Lebanon would have been placed in a very dangerous situation if Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea was killed.

In an interview published in An Nahar daily, Pietton expressed concern at the situation in Lebanon after Geagea escaped an assassination attempt as he was walking in the garden of his fortified residence in Maarab.

“We strongly condemn it. Had it succeeded God forbid, Lebanon would have been in a very dangerous situation,” he said.

The alarm that the murder attempt sent calls for strong efforts to protect Lebanon from the developments in its surroundings.

“Whether this was called a policy of distancing itself (from the Syrian crisis) or not, the protection of Lebanon from the developments becomes much more important,” Pietton told his interviewer.

“It is in the interest of Lebanese officials to preserve national unity and dialogue so that the Syrian crisis does not expand to Lebanon,” he said.

Pietton urged Lebanese officials to resume the national dialogue under President Michel Suleiman “even if it was not immediately productive.”

On the 2013 parliamentary elections, the ambassador said the polls should be held on time.

“It would be a big mistake to postpone them under the excuse of waiting as to what’s going to happen in neighboring countries,” he told An Nahar.

“I agree that the attempted murder against Geagea was aimed at stirring LF fears and maybe an organized chaos because it’s not clear who would take charge after him and this would affect the (results of ) the elections,” he said.