France in talks with KSA for Lebanon conference

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has discussed in a phone call with U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack the need to support the Lebanese Army to implement its disarmament plan, a French diplomat said.

The diplomat told An-Nahar newspaper, in remarks published Tuesday, that Barrot and Barrack also discussed France's commitment to hold an international conference in Riyadh in November to support the Lebanese Army.

Macron had called Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman two days ago to prepare for the conference, the daily said, adding that the latter has not yet given his final response.

French Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with Prince Yazid bin Farhan over the conference.

Paris also wants to host another conference to drum up financial aid for the reconstruction of war-hit regions in Lebanon, but only after Lebanese authorities fulfill their commitments by enacting financial reforms and concluding an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.