Lebanon’s Stand on STL Will Determine Fate of Country’s Ties with France
France is keen that Lebanon state its clear position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, whether it is positive or negative, revealed French diplomatic sources to the daily al-Mustaqbal Sunday.
They added that the ties between the two countries will remain the same until Lebanon reveals its stance on the tribunal.
The sources revealed that France has set as a priority Lebanon’s funding of the STL, adding that its failure to commit to it will not only affect its ties with the country, but with the international community.
Furthermore, they noted the lack of official visits between Lebanon and France, which they attributed to the manner in which governmental change was introduced in Lebanon.
“The change has greatly affected the level of political contact with France,” they stressed.
This is why France is counting on President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to fulfill their pledges before the international community to fund the STL, added the sources.
Al-Mustaqbal noted that since the formation of the government, only three ministers have traveled to France: Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, all of whom met their respective French counterparts.
The dispute over the funding of the STL has created further division in Lebanon, with the March 8 camp voicing its opposition to it and the March 14 camp advocating it.
The March 14-led opposition has stressed that Lebanon’s failure to commit to its pledge to fund the tribunal will lead the country to a confrontation with the international community.
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