Reports: France Keen to Stress on Stability in Lebanon during Miqati's Visit
Prime Minister Najib Miqati's visit to Paris on Monday falls within France's keenness to maintain stability in Lebanon and to continue discussions over the necessary measures that would resolve the political crisis in the country, media reports said.
Diplomatic sources told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper published on Friday that Miqati's visit isn't to express France's support to his cabinet, which is confronting strong calls by the March 14 opposition to step down.
The sources told the newspaper that France is seeking to carry out a deal that ensures a government change.
“French officials will stress during Miqati's visit its keenness to safeguard stability in Lebanon including providing the country with all the necessary security guarantees,” the sources pointed out.
The premier is set to travel to the French capital on Monday on a three-day visit to meet with French President Francois Hollande, his counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault and several other senior officials.
Hollande visited Lebanon on November 4, where he held talks with President Michel Suleiman and didn't meet with the PM, which sparked a storm of media speculation over the reasons.
The political crisis in Lebanon deepened the gap between the March 14 opposition alliance and the March 8 coalition after the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Wissam al-Hasan on October 19.
The opposition has been calling for the resignation of Miqati's government after blaming the attack that left al-Hasan and two others dead on Syria and its March 8 coalition allies in Lebanon.
A French source told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Miqati's visit to Paris is to ink various deals with the Lebanese state as France wants to express its solidarity with Beirut.
However, the source said that France's priority is to safeguard Lebanon from any negative impacts by the Syrian turmoil.
“This priority doesn't mean that the current cabinet shouldn't be changed, but any change should be based on maintaining Lebanon's stability in this difficult time,” the source said.
The international community and analysts have continuously expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.
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