Pietton Meets Hariri, Lauds His Latest Speech

French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton on Friday saluted "the unwavering commitment … that was expressed by the caretaker prime minister in the solemn and dignified speech that he delivered" Thursday.

"I visited caretaker Prime Minister (Saad Hariri) to discuss the serious political crisis that Lebanon is going through today," Pietton said after talks with Hariri at the Center House in downtown Beirut.

"I reminded Mr. Hariri of the two pillars of the French policy towards his country: the support of the sovereignty, independence and stability of the country on the one hand, and the fight against impunity (for political crimes) in the framework of international legitimacy on the other hand," the French ambassador added.

He called on the Lebanese to "respect the Constitution, the institutions and the rules of democratic life."

"Faithful to the unfailing friendship between our two countries, the President of the (French) Republic, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy announced on January 16 a diplomatic initiative. Lebanon knows it can count on the goodwill of all its friends, including France, which remains fully mobilized," Pietton noted.

Efforts are underway by France to launch an initiative to solve the Lebanese crisis following the government's collapse.

"Paris is keen on solving the Lebanese crisis through dialogue with the different Lebanese sides and with this country's neighbors," French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published last week.

Paris "is working through international consultations to help Lebanon overcome this crisis," she said.

Informed Elysee Palace sources have told Lebanese daily An-Nahar that Paris was authorized by the U.S. to end the deadlock and guarantee stability in Lebanon.

A European diplomat said last week that France was calling for the creation of an international "contact group" on Lebanon.

"The contact group would include Syria, Saudi Arabia, France, the United States, Qatar, Turkey and possibly other countries with a stake in Lebanon," the diplomat told Agence France Presse.

"The group would meet outside of Lebanon given the current tensions in the country," the diplomat added.