Paris warns of sanctions, Doha to back Le Drian's mission
The latest French proposal for dialogue among the Lebanese parties is still unchanged, but Paris does not mind receiving objections and suggestions to discuss them and clarify them, especially if some parties are dismayed or have concerns, a French diplomatic source said.
“The previous package, which stood for a president in return for a premier, is no longer on the table, because it did not lead to a result,” the source told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Friday.
The source also warned that French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian’s mission is considered “the latest available chance to rescue Lebanon from the current situation,” cautioning that “should the mission fail, all options will be on the table, including U.S. and European sanctions.”
Arab diplomatic sources meanwhile revealed to the newspaper that a Qatari mediator had “arrived in Beirut or is on the way to it” to discuss “some details related to Le Drian’s mission.”
“The Qatari envoy’s mission comes after Le Drian called on his partners in the five-nation gathering to aid him in his mission in light of the (negative) Lebanese responses to his letter to MPs,” the sources added.
