Miqati Heads to Paris in February with a Packed Agenda
Prime Minister Najib Miqati is expected to head to Paris in February with a packed agenda as he will meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy and PM Francois Fillon during his three-day visit.
“France has always played a centrist role concerning Arab issues, because it understands the region through its relations with Lebanon… we should remain a key knot between the Arabs and France,” sources following up the visit told As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.
They added: “France has always dealt with Lebanon in a unique way… Things changed a little bit when the current government led by Miqati was formed, but things are going back to normal.”
Earlier in January, Miqati confirmed in an interview published in An Nahar newspaper that he will head to Paris on February 10.
According to As Safir, the premier will discuss in Paris military aid to the Lebanese armed forces.
The sources told the daily that the Lebanese army needs the appropriate training and equipment in order to gradually take charge from the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon.
“Lebanon will urge France to continue its support to the army,” they stated.
Discussions will also tackle the investigations on the attacks on a number of French soldiers in 2011.
10 French UNIFIL troops were injured in two separate roadside bomb attacks in 2011, one near Sidon in July, and one near Tyre in December.
Concerning the developments in Syria, the sources noted that Lebanon will remain on its stance, disassociating itself from the turmoil in the neighboring country.
Asked if Paris has inquired Miqati over the situation of the Lebanese banks and their ties with Syria, they said that “the banks already disconnected themselves from the Syrian developments… the private sector is keen to preserve its interests.”
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