Miqati: Sarkozy Showed Understanding of Lebanon Policy to Distance Itself from Arab Revolts

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

During the meeting, Sarkozy stressed the importance of “the historic ties between Lebanon and France,” lauding “the efforts exerted by PM Najib Miqati to preserve stability in Lebanon,” Miqati’s press office said in a statement issued after the talks.

Sarkozy “expressed understanding of Lebanon’s stance to disassociate itself from what is going on in its Arab surroundings, given the sensitivity of Lebanon’s location and its historic ties with the Arab countries,” Miqati’s press office added.

He stressed to Miqati that “France is ready to provide all kinds of support for Lebanon in the economic and technical fields.”

For his part, Miqati said talks tackled the bilateral ties between the two countries, the political developments and the “valued” participation of French peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“While discussing the issue of UNIFIL, I asked the French president to exert the necessary pressure on Israel to force it to stop its territorial, naval and aerial violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and to halt its espionage acts against Lebanon,” the premier said.

“Of course we also tackled the Arab situations and the situation in the Middle East in general, and I stressed to the French president that Lebanon’s stance is to disassociate itself from all these developments, because what’s important to me is the Lebanese situation and stability in Lebanon,” Miqati added.

The PM said he asked Sarkozy to back this stance.

“He expressed understanding and promised to support” Lebanon’s position, Miqati said.

He stressed that “there will be no stability in the region without achieving peace” between Israel and the Arab countries.

“I stressed to President Sarkozy that we have an Arab Spring everyday in Lebanon, but that what’s essential, before talking about any Arab spring, is the end of wars in the region and the rise of the dawn of peace, and that what’s required is a solution to the Palestinian cause based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative launched from Beirut,” Miqati said.

“Peace is the main thing and not all the movements taking place nowadays,” he added.

Asked about French support for the Lebanese army, Miqati said: “During the meeting, we tackled the issue of (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1701, which stipulates aiding the Lebanese army to help it replace the U.N. forces, and I thanked the French president for the latest French aid offered to the Lebanese army and asked for further assistance.”

Later on Friday, Miqati held talks with his French counterpart Francois Fillon, in the presence of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh.

He also held talks with the president of the Senate, Jean-Pierre Bel.

Earlier on Friday, Miqati stressed that Lebanon will continue to hold onto its policy of dissociating itself from the developments in Syria, urging businessmen in Paris to increase their investments in Lebanon.

He said during a two-day visit to the French capital that the crisis in Syria shouldn’t affect Lebanon.

“We can’t afford to be at loggerheads with any Arab country and it’s a decision we’ll abide by,” Miqati said.

Miqati headed to Paris on Thursday to meet with senior French officials with a packed agenda.

French authorities held an official reception for the premier at the “Invalides.”

He urged businessmen during a meeting with MEDEF international CEOs to increase their investments in Lebanon as it’s expected to become an oil and gas producer.

Miqati said on his twitter account that Lebanon’s “Special Economic Zone and the planned oil and gas exploration are one of our key economic attractions to foreign countries and CEOs.”

In January, the cabinet endorsed plans to implement legislation that will clear the way for offshore oil and gas exploration, downplaying the risk of conflict with Israel, despite a dispute over the maritime border.

However, the government is yet to name the regulatory authority which will manage the fund.

In August, parliament passed a law setting Lebanon's maritime boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone, as it has previously submitted to the United Nations a maritime map that conflicts significantly with one proposed by Israel.

Lebanon argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.

The disputed zone consists of about 854 square kilometers and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.

Lebanon has been slow to exploit its maritime resources compared with other eastern Mediterranean countries. Israel, Cyprus and Turkey are all much more advanced in drilling for oil and gas.

Miqati urged the businessmen to reach a “common economic language” that will benefit everyone.

“You have the chance to invest in a country that depends on the market, respects the private sector, and applies the bank secrecy policy,” he said.