Report: Meeting on Lebanon to Be Held on Margins of U.N. General Assembly

France is pushing for holding an international meeting on Lebanon in September given the rising security and political challenges in the country, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Thursday.

An informed French source told the daily: “France is persuading friendly nations to hold a meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly to help Lebanon and provide political support to President Michel Suleiman.”

The meeting will also back Lebanon on the security, financial, and humanitarian levels, said the source.

The conference is likely to be held on September 23 or 24.

The source highlighted the challenges facing Lebanon such as the impact the Syrian crisis is having on the country and Hizbullah's involvement in the fighting alongside regime forces.

It also noted Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's inability to form a new government and the possibility that he may form one without Hizbullah's participation.

“The looming presidential election in 2014 and the increased economic problems in Lebanon given the ongoing flow of Syrian refugees into the country” only stress the need to support Lebanon and hold the international conference, it added.