French President Postpones Visit to Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed a planned visit to Lebanon and Iraq amid assurances by the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Bruno Foucher that it “will be rescheduled," media reports said on Friday.

Macron was planned to visit Iraq and Lebanon in the first half of April, but the travel arrangements were rescheduled due to previous commitments.

Foucher has assured that the "visit will take place and will be rescheduled at a later time."

Al-Joumhouria daily said “Macron's step was no surprise to many who expected it. The French ambassador pointed out that talks about the trip may resume after the completion of the parliamentary elections,” in Lebanon.

He stressed that Macron is seeking strong relations with a number of friends from France and Lebanon to increase the aid programs planned for the country at the special conferences for Lebanon including the military, security and economic fields, and the file of displaced and Syrian refugees, added the daily.

Lebanon is gearing up for three international donor conferences in 2018 aiming at boosting support for its army and security forces, the Rome II Conference, the Paris IV conference also known as the Cedar Conference and the Brussels Conference.