French Senate Chief Vows Support for Lebanon as He Begins Official Visit

Head of the French Senate Gerard Larcher arrived in Lebanon on Thursday for talks with a number of top officials.

“We know that the region is going through very difficult circumstances and the presence of France and the French Senate alongside our Lebanese friends is a duty during dire times,” said Larcher at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport.

“Lebanon can depend on its French friends in the French Senate,” he added.

He said his visit will tackle “the political situation in Lebanon and the region.”

“For us, Lebanon is not only a country, but also a symbol,” Larcher went on to say.

Noting that Lebanon “hosts the biggest number of Syrian refugees,” the French official urged “collective support” from the international community for the Lebanese authorities as they face “a very difficult situation.”

Larcher later held separate talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.

His talks with Salam addressed “means to strengthen bilateral ties between France and Lebanon and to activate the work of parliamentary committees in both countries as well as the general developments and the Syrian refugee crisis,” state-run National News Agency said.

Larcher is also scheduled to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut Boulos Matar and a number of politicians.

The French embassy in Beirut had declared that the visit is part of the “strong ties of friendship between France and Lebanon.”

While in Lebanon, Larcher is also expected to launch the Beirut Francophone Book Fair.

“This visit will serve as an opportunity to confirm France's support to Lebanon against the challenges it is facing on all levels, especially in harboring Syrian refugees,” An Nahar newspaper said.

Y.R./M.T.