Pietton Reiterates French Support to STL: No Need to Hold Paris Meeting as Tensions in Lebanon Have Eased
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea held talks on Friday with French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton on the postponement of the contact group meeting between France, the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.
The French official explained that the meeting was not necessary at the moment because the tensions that had been predominant in Lebanon have eased, said a statement from Geagea’s media office.
Pietton and Geagea also discussed the efforts to form a new Lebanese government, with the former stressing that this is a strictly Lebanese constitutional issue.
He also reiterated France’s support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and commitment towards U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, a French diplomatic source denied to Akhbar al-Yawm news agency Lebanese media reports that the contact group meeting was cancelled, saying that it will likely be held after the formation of a Lebanese national unity government.
It added that the meeting will not include representatives from Lebanon and Syria, noting that the latter did not indicate that it wanted to participate in the event, “but it will always be welcome should it demonstrate goodwill towards helping Lebanon end its crisis.”
The source also pointed out that Syria and Qatar are not on the same page regarding the situation in Lebanon.
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