Salam says Marcon meeting was positive, contrary to reports

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has dismissed the reports that spread a negative atmosphere about his Paris meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron as well as his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s mission.

“I wonder where they get this news from. The meeting with Macron was positive, France is supportive of Lebanon and the magnitude of French support is linked to the developments that might happen. But I’m reassured that the renewal of the UNIFIL forces’ mandate will take place at the end of August,” Salam said in an interview with al-Liwaa newspaper.

As for his expectations for the coming period, Salam said: “Things are open and nothing is final yet.”

Asked about the media reports claiming that France and the U.S. want an Israeli buffer zone in south Lebanon, Salam said he has not heard of such demands.