Miqati Confident Army Will Restore Order in Tripoli, Hails Lebanese-French Ties

Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed confidence on Saturday that the army will be able to restore order in the northern coastal city of Tripoli, Praising the Lebanese-French bilateral relation after a meeting with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.

“The Lebanese army will be able to play its role; we have confidence in its leadership. I contacted army commander General Jean Qahwaji and I am confident that the army will restore order (in Tripoli),” Miqati told reporters in the French capital Paris.

Gun battles erupted on Friday between the dominant Alawite Tripoli neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen and mainly Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh.

Miqati stressed that his meetings with senior French officials were “excellent” as the French officials expressed their “full understanding” to the situation in Lebanon.

“I reiterated that all I want is to maintain stability and unity in Lebanon, and disassociate the country from any disputes,” the premier stated.

Miqati said that he discussed with his French counterpart Francois Fillon the bilateral agreements between the two countries and the French aid to Lebanon as well as the cooperation concerning the electricity sector.

Asked about the French attempt to downsize the contingent affiliated in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the premier noted that France will reduce the number of their troops in the UNIFIL due to expenses as it’s “not a political decision.”

Five French U.N. soldiers and a Lebanese civilian were wounded in December by a powerful blast that targeted their patrol in the southern town of Tyre.

Miqati ruled out that his visit to France falls under his funding to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri, denying that his meetings with French officials tackled the expected renew of the court’s protocol.

In January, Miqati transferred Lebanon's share of funds for the U.N.-backed court probing the murder of Hariri, averting a crisis that threatened the collapse of his government.

On the crisis in the neighboring Syria, the PM said that his cabinet is seeking to safeguard Lebanon, maintain its stability and to prevent the impact of foreign developments on the country.

“Our best decision is to disassociate Lebanon from the developments in Syria,” Miqati reiterated on Lebanon’s position from the establishment of “Friends of Syria” group.

However, the PM stressed on Lebanon’s “excellent” relations with the Gulf States.

Concerning the cabinet crisis, Miqati stressed that his discussions with senior French officials didn’t tackle the local situation but “I am convinced that I am fully carrying out my duties.”

He stressed on his condition to receive promises from ministers that they will be productive in order to renew the cabinet sessions.

“We will eventually reach a certain solution…. I think everything will go on properly,” Miqati told reporters.

The PM headed to Paris on Thursday to meet with senior French officials amid a cabinet crisis that erupted on February 1 when the ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun rejected the names of candidates that the premier had proposed for the Higher Disciplinary Council that is linked to the premier’s office.

Meanwhile, Miqati held a meeting on Saturday with French FM Alain Juppe.

Juppe voiced his support to Miqati’s decision to back the Lebanese army in order to safeguard the country and maintain stability.

For his part, the premier said that “the bilateral relations between the two countries will not be affected by any disputes.”

“Lebanese-French ties will not become damaged, because they are historic… and founded on common human values,” he added.

On Friday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed Miqati’s efforts to maintain stability in Lebanon, expressing his understanding to the Lebanese cabinet’s attempt to dissociate itself from the turmoil in neighboring Syria.