Hollande Says No to Impunity, Warns Paris Won't Tolerate Attempts to Destabilize Lebanon
French President Francois Hollande warned on Sunday that Paris would prevent any attempt to undermine Lebanon's stability, advising political forces to join hands through dialogue to avert a further crisis.
“I would say to all those who can contribute to the stability of Lebanon to work through the spirit of dialogue,” Hollande said at a joint press conference with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace during a short trip to Beirut.
“I want to remind all those who have an interest in undermining the stability of Lebanon that France would confront that because Lebanon is an example of unity,” he said.
"France will spare no effort to guarantee Lebanon's independence, unity and security," Hollande told reporters.
The French president also said there should be no impunity in the Feb. 2005 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the recent murder of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau Chief Wissam al-Hasan.
There has been frequent shelling into Lebanese territory by the Syrian army as well as deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of the Damascus regime.
In August ex-information minister Michel Samaha, who has close ties to the Assad regime, was arrested over suspicion he was planning bomb attacks to provoke sectarian strife at Syria's behest.
Hassan and the ISF played a key role in the investigation that led to Samaha's arrest.
France has no ties with Michel Samaha and it's up to the Lebanese judiciary to decide on his case, Hollande said in response to a question.
“The Lebanese should overcome the incident by joining hands,” Suleiman said at the press conference about the instability in the aftermath of al-Hasan's murder.
The March 14 opposition alliance has been calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government after blaming the Oct. 19 attack that left al-Hasan and two others dead on Syria and its March 8 coalition allies in Lebanon.
Suleiman said he agreed with his French counterpart on the need for dialogue and commitment by all parties in Lebanon to the Baabda Declaration that has been supported by the Security Council and all Arab countries to preserve Lebanon against the repercussions of the regional conflicts.
He said Hollande stressed France's commitment to help the Lebanese Armed Forces in preserving democracy and civil peace and fighting terrorism.
Suleiman also expressed hope that the Syrian people would reach reform and democracy away from violence and foreign military intervention.
Hollande's trip to Lebanon was the first by a French president since the previous head of state, Nicolas Sarkozy, visited in June 2008.
It included a 30-minute meeting with Suleiman and later the French delegation joined the two statesmen on breakfast.
Hollande later went to Jeddah for talks with Saudi King Abdullah on the international standoff on Iran's contested nuclear program and the Syrian crisis.
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