France: All Sides in Lebanon Must Adhere to Baabda Declaration
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot voiced his country's support for the Lebanese government's policy of disassociation from regional developments, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.
He told the daily that all Lebanese powers must respect the Baabda Declaration that was sponsored by President Michel Suleiman and which calls for sides to adhere to the disassociation policy.
France has repeatedly stressed the need for Lebanon to steer away from the Syrian crisis and all Lebanese powers must work to achieve that goal, he added.
France supports the efforts of Lebanese authorities in their determination to ease internal tensions, Lalliot continued.
Moreover, he said that his country is committed to completing its mission in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
This force is essential at this time given the regional tensions, the French Foreign Ministry spokesman noted to the daily.
UNIFIL is still playing a central role despite the difficulties it is facing in maintaining stability in Lebanon, he said.
The Baabda Declaration, approved in June, stipulates that Lebanon should commit to the policy of disassociation to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territory.
Violence from Syria has however spilled over into Lebanese border areas with villages in those regions coming under shelling of regime forces.
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