Diplomatic Sources: Miqati Courageously Confronting Pressure

France is aware of the pressure exerted on Premier Najib Miqati which he is courageously confronting, Lebanese diplomatic sources in Paris said on Friday.

In remarks to pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on the occasion of Miqati’s official visit to Paris, the sources said that France shares with the PM his concerns on the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon.

“It is also aware of the pressures exerted on him and which he is courageously confronting,” they said.

The sources said that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will stress to Miqati his keenness on preserving the policy of steering Lebanon away from the crisis in Syria.

Despite the “coldness” in the ties between France and Lebanon when Miqati’s government was formed last year following accusations that ex-Premier Saad Hariri’s cabinet was toppled, the relations have now improved, they told Asharq al-Awsat.

The sources stressed that Paris believes the presence of a Hizbullah-led cabinet is better than having a vacuum.