Gemayel Says he Received French Promises to Consolidate Lebanon

Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel has said that French President Francois Hollande, who encourages dialogue among the Lebanese, promised him to consolidate his support for Lebanon.

The French “administration is working for Lebanon and the interest of all the Lebanese no matter what their religious or political belongings are,” Gemayel said following his talks with Hollande at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday.

“President Hollande promised me to keep exerting efforts to help Lebanon at all levels and mainly consolidate it against the events in the region and the repercussions of the Syrian crisis,” he said.

Gemayel told reporters that the controversy on an electoral draft-law was among the issues he discussed with the French head of state.

“This is a local issue that is being discussed among the different Lebanese parties but I was surprised by the French president’s awareness of its details,” he said.

Rival lawmakers haven't yet agreed on a new law that would govern the parliamentary elections set to be held in June.

On national dialogue, Gemayel said: “Hollande encourages dialogue among the Lebanese and I agree with him.”

“We discussed ways that could push” the different parries to attend the all-party talks at Baabda Palace, he said.

“We should be convinced that not a single Lebanese faction could be eliminated,” the Phalange leader added.

During his visit to Paris, Gemayel met with ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday.

He said in remarks published Tuesday that the March 14 opposition alliance is exerting strong efforts to preserve the coalition despite electoral differences.

“The efforts are currently being exerting to achieve true partnership while preserving the March 14 (alliance) and the national interest,” Gemayel told An Nahar daily.