Hariri Meets Hollande in Saudi, Lauds France Support for Army, STL
French President Francois Hollande held talks with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday evening.
Hariri published a picture of him and Hollande on his Twitter page.
The 40-minute meeting was also attended by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and tackled “the Lebanese situation in particular and the regional situations in general, especially in Syria,” said a statement issued by Hariri's press office.
Hariri extended his gratitude to Hollande over “France's continuous support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” stressing “the importance of France's stance, which supports the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, especially the Lebanese army that represents the backbone of domestic stability.”
He also lauded Paris' willingness to contribute to the success of a Saudi plan to arm the Lebanese army with French weapons, after President Michel Suleiman announced that Riyadh has decided to donate three billion dollars to the Lebanese army.
Hollande's meeting with Hariri comes amid heightening tensions in Lebanon after the assassination of his close aide, former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, in a car bombing on Friday in Beirut.
Hariri lives outside Lebanon due to security fears.
During a press conference in Riyadh, Hollande announced that Paris "will respond positively to any Lebanese request," following Suleiman's announcement.
"We have a common stance with Riyadh over the issue of Lebanon's unity and independence," said Hollande.
"We are interested in having a stable Lebanon and we will respond positively to any Lebanese request," he stressed.
In an interview published Sunday in pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, Hollande called for the respect of "constitutional deadlines" in Lebanon, starting with "holding presidential elections in May 2014."
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Hollande would deliver a "special message" to Hariri reiterating Paris' friendship and "calls for the integrity and independence" of Lebanon.
France "rejects the contagion that some want to impose between the conflict in Syria and Lebanon," he said on board the presidential plane.
Hollande is also scheduled to meet Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Jarba in Saudi Arabia, according to a member of his entourage.
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