Sarkozy to al-Rahi: Assad’s Regime is Over
French President Nicolas Sarkozy informed Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi during his visit to France earlier this week that the “regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad is over,” reported An Nahar daily on Saturday.
The patriarch received assurances from various French officials that “Lebanon and Christians minorities will not be sacrificed” for regional interests.
In addition, they affirmed to him their support of the implementation of United Nations Security Council 1701 and the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
However, the daily noted that al-Rahi’s positions on Syria were not positively received by French officials, with Sarkozy informing him during their Monday meeting that the Syrian regime is coming to an end.
The patriarch had stated on Wednesday: “Assad must be given a chance because he is implementing reforms in Syria.”
An Nahar also reported that al-Rahi’s talks in France addressed Hizbullah and the Lebanese government.
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