President Michel Suleiman met Thursday the French President Nicholas Sarkozy in New York. The two leaders’ discussion revolved around bilateral ties and the latest political developments in the Mideast.
The French support for Lebanon’s non-permanent membership in the U.N Security Council was a major topic on the meeting agenda as Sarkozy renewed “France’s full support of Lebanon in the international forums.” and tackled the Cabinet lineup issue calling for a Lebanese reconciliation that should result into “speeding up the Cabinet formation in order to enable Lebanon to handle the files and the dues that are awaiting on the national and regional levels.”

Given that, the two presidents reviewed the issues and files that the French PM Francois Fillon will discuss with the Lebanese officials during his visit to Beirut at the end of the month on the occasion of the Francophone Games opening in the Lebanese capital.

Suleiman’ s schedule for the day included many activities related to his efforts in lobbying for Lebanon’s presence in the U.N. Security Council as a non-permanent member.

Following his meeting with Sarkozy, he met with Austrian President Heinz Fisher who confirmed that his country will vote in support of Lebanon’s non-permanent membership in the Security Council for the consecutive years 2010 and 2011 and hoped “for a Cabinet lineup as soon as possible.”

At the end of his meeting with Suleiman, the Bosnian President stressed on the necessity of developing bilateral relations and reinforcing the economic and investments exchange between the two countries.”,

Suleiman met also the Iranian and the Palestinian heads of states as well as the Turkish PM, the Foreign Ministers of UAE and Egypt and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani with whom he had dinner.

President Suleiman started his day attending the Security Council meeting headed by the American President Obama on the non-proliferation of the nuclear arms and is expected to deliver his speech at the U.N. General Assembly Friday at 6pm, Beirut time.

PARIS (AFP) — Lebanese President Michel Sleiman kicked off a three-day state visit to France Monday, holding talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy who pledged his full support for the reconciliation process in Lebanon.

France rolled out the red carpet for the Lebanese leader, who was escorted across the River Seine to the official guest residence of the Elysee Palace by mounted republican guards.

Sleiman, whose visit comes as Lebanon prepares to open its first ever embassy in former powerbroker Syria and gears up for legislative elections in June, met with Sarkozy for almost an hour ahead of a banquet dinner.

“This visit shows Lebanon’s value in France’s eyes, and the French president’s support for the Lebanese government and people,” Sleiman told reporters after their talks.

“France has always supported and promoted the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon.”

Sleiman’s visit was expected to focus on the diplomatic with Damascus, which was spurred by former colonial power France.

The Lebanese leader said there was a “total convergence of views” between Paris and Beirut on Lebanese relations with Syria, and the wider Middle East peace process.

Sarkozy assured Sleiman of “France’s full support for efforts to consolidate the independence and unity of Lebanon,” the French presidency said.

Lebanon’s June 7 elections vote will be the first since the Western-backed parliamentary majority and the Syria- and Iran-backed opposition reached a deal in May 2008, ending a crisis that brought Lebanon to the brink of civil war.

A Lebanese government official told AFP the visit would also focus on French military and economic assistance to Lebanon.

France has 1,900 troops serving as part of a UN force in south Lebanon, although it announced in January plans to withdraw two warships monitoring waters off the Lebanese coast.

On Tuesday Sleiman was due to hold talks with Prime Minister Francois Fillon and visit both houses of parliament, before returning to Lebanon Wednesday.