French Foreign Ministry Sources: France Does Not Consider Hizbullah Terrorist, Stance Not Affected by STL Indictment
Local Translator
From Al Intiqad by Nidal Hamade, Paris
The pace of work is increasing and the matters are loaded on the French Foreign Ministry's agenda, some of which are related to the Ministry's situation, where due to the new Ministerial amendment, the Foreign portfolio will be handed in to a high ranked French politician in the ruling party; former Prime Minister Alain Juppe.
Other matters of priority for the said Ministry nowadays are the current revolutions in the Arab World located near Europe, and which so far led to the collapse of two ally governments to France and the West, who are Hosni Mubarak (Egypt), and Zein Al Abidin Bin Ali (Libya).
In this context, the Union for the Mediterranean project, primary an initiative by French President Nicolas Sarkuzy, is witnessing a reel after the departure of the Union's Presidents Mubarak, and Bin Ali, the President of the country which was scheduled to hold the Union's headquarters.
Furthermore, the Lebanese issue also takes part in the French Foreign Ministry's agenda, although the Lebanese situation seems to witness recoil due to current events in more than one Arab country, in addition to the waiting for the indictment issuance from Bellemare's tribunal.
In this regard, a high ranked Foreign Ministry source told Al Intiqad electronic newspaper that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's (STL) indictment will not change anything regarding France's policy towards Hizbullah. On this level, the source said France does not consider Hizbullah a terrorist organization.
Upon question, shedding the light on the French stance in the European Committee on Terrorism in case the STL accused Hizbullah members in Rafiq Hariri's assassination, the source stated that will not make France reconsider its refusal to put Hizbullah on the European list of terrorism, although some country have sought to achieve so.
The French source added that his country calls upon all parties in Lebanon to cooperate with the STL in accordance with relevant international resolution, adding that France is interested in the security and stability in Lebanon, and supports that justice takes its rightful path in this regard.
On the Libyan level, the official source pointed out that France strictly refuses to impose military interference, although this issue was proposed by the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
The French Foreign Ministry source added that the NATO was the side that suggested imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, saying that disallowing the Libyan Air Force to fly over the Libyan airspace to bomb anti-Muammar Gaddafi regime, is considered to be a military interference.
The source confirmed that no military options were discussed in the French government, referring to that now; the situation relies on the UN Security Council, which should adopt any decision regarding a military interference in Libya.
Whether there is French or Western draft resolution that could be filed before the UNSC, the French source said there is no draft resolution on this issue so far, yet stated that event developments might contribute in any updates.
On the level of the French stance about the transitions in Egypt, and which new French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, declared in the Tahrir (Liberation) Square in Cairo, the official source stated that his country supports the choice of the Egyptian people regarding who they want to rule them.
Regarding the readiness to deal with the new Egyptian government, which could be controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, the French source said that situations should not be anticipated.
He added, with reference to the Camp David Accord, as long as the Egyptian Government respected the Egyptian international obligations, then cooperation with it will be normal.
In this context, the source said that France and the west do not dictate the Egyptians their policies, but in return, they should respect their obligations, adding that Egypt will not cancel the accords, stating that his country is aware that the Egyptian military wants to keep Egypt's international obligations.
From Al Intiqad by Nidal Hamade, Paris
The pace of work is increasing and the matters are loaded on the French Foreign Ministry's agenda, some of which are related to the Ministry's situation, where due to the new Ministerial amendment, the Foreign portfolio will be handed in to a high ranked French politician in the ruling party; former Prime Minister Alain Juppe.
Other matters of priority for the said Ministry nowadays are the current revolutions in the Arab World located near Europe, and which so far led to the collapse of two ally governments to France and the West, who are Hosni Mubarak (Egypt), and Zein Al Abidin Bin Ali (Libya).
In this context, the Union for the Mediterranean project, primary an initiative by French President Nicolas Sarkuzy, is witnessing a reel after the departure of the Union's Presidents Mubarak, and Bin Ali, the President of the country which was scheduled to hold the Union's headquarters.
Furthermore, the Lebanese issue also takes part in the French Foreign Ministry's agenda, although the Lebanese situation seems to witness recoil due to current events in more than one Arab country, in addition to the waiting for the indictment issuance from Bellemare's tribunal.
In this regard, a high ranked Foreign Ministry source told Al Intiqad electronic newspaper that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's (STL) indictment will not change anything regarding France's policy towards Hizbullah. On this level, the source said France does not consider Hizbullah a terrorist organization.
Upon question, shedding the light on the French stance in the European Committee on Terrorism in case the STL accused Hizbullah members in Rafiq Hariri's assassination, the source stated that will not make France reconsider its refusal to put Hizbullah on the European list of terrorism, although some country have sought to achieve so.
The French source added that his country calls upon all parties in Lebanon to cooperate with the STL in accordance with relevant international resolution, adding that France is interested in the security and stability in Lebanon, and supports that justice takes its rightful path in this regard.
On the Libyan level, the official source pointed out that France strictly refuses to impose military interference, although this issue was proposed by the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
The French Foreign Ministry source added that the NATO was the side that suggested imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, saying that disallowing the Libyan Air Force to fly over the Libyan airspace to bomb anti-Muammar Gaddafi regime, is considered to be a military interference.
The source confirmed that no military options were discussed in the French government, referring to that now; the situation relies on the UN Security Council, which should adopt any decision regarding a military interference in Libya.
Whether there is French or Western draft resolution that could be filed before the UNSC, the French source said there is no draft resolution on this issue so far, yet stated that event developments might contribute in any updates.
On the level of the French stance about the transitions in Egypt, and which new French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, declared in the Tahrir (Liberation) Square in Cairo, the official source stated that his country supports the choice of the Egyptian people regarding who they want to rule them.
Regarding the readiness to deal with the new Egyptian government, which could be controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, the French source said that situations should not be anticipated.
He added, with reference to the Camp David Accord, as long as the Egyptian Government respected the Egyptian international obligations, then cooperation with it will be normal.
In this context, the source said that France and the west do not dictate the Egyptians their policies, but in return, they should respect their obligations, adding that Egypt will not cancel the accords, stating that his country is aware that the Egyptian military wants to keep Egypt's international obligations.
