Local Editor, 4-1-2010

President Michel Sleiman returned to Beirut at dawn on Sunday after spending the holiday with his family in France. During his trip, Sleiman met his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkouzy.
During the talks, the two discussed Lebanese-French relations and tackled Middle East issues.
Following a one-hour meeting with his French counterpart at the Elysee Palace, Sleiman said that they discussed Lebanon's internal problems, "Israeli" threats to the country, bilateral relations and Mideast peace efforts.

Sleiman also told reporters after the talks that the two discussed Lebanon's two-year term on the U.N. Security Council.

The president stressed that Lebanon was "interested in fully implementing resolution 1701" and noted that relations with Syria are "very good" and Beirut is "waiting for the improvement of such ties."

Sources said that Sarkozy also expressed relief at "normalization of ties between Lebanon and Syria after the visit of Premier Saad Hariri" to Damascus. Sarkozy promised Sleiman to help Lebanon ward off the danger of a new war.

According to sources, french presidential sources as saying that Sarkozy welcomed the holding of the parliamentary elections last June and the vote of confidence that the new cabinet received from parliament.