SAUDI ARABIA: France will oppose those creating instability in Lebanon, President Francois Hollande says in Saudi Arabia, where he met King Abdullah

Record ID: 189054

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: France will oppose those creating instability in Lebanon, President Francois Hollande says in Saudi Arabia, where he met King Abdullah
  • Date: 4th November 2012
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 4, 2012) (REUTERS) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, WALKING TO PODIUM HOLLANDE SMILING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "On Lebanon, this morning I spoke to President Michel Suleiman, and we once again called for the stability, security and integrity of Lebanon and (together) with King Abdullah, we once again sent a warning to anyone who wants to destabilise that country." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "France thinks it very important that the Syrian opposition form a government to speed up transition, to give legitimacy to all the opposition, both interior and exterior opposition. And also to ensure that it's a democratic transition that we're talking about, so that there are no risks for the post-Assad era." OFFICIALS LISTENING TO HOLLANDE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "On Iran, despite the sanctions and despite the pressure, the steps expected from Iran still haven't happened. So we'll continue to exercise all necessary force on Iran, not so that it gives up its civilian nuclear, but so that this country gives up military nuclear because it threatens the region and the world, because we're against nuclear proliferation. I would like Iran to come to the negotiating table with new proposals, with transparency. To allow the IAEA. (International Atomic Energy Agency) to say that Iran is respecting its obligations." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "We spoke about human rights and women's rights with the King, he talked about the reforms he's undertaken, I have also spoken to members of the civil society who acknowledged that since 2005, steps have been taken, that there would probably be others, and that notably on the issue of women, decisions are hoped for." HOLLANDE LEAVING VARIOUS OF AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 19th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA91VXKBK523B5AQSJHT0I8HY6U
  • Story Text: French President Francois Hollande on Sunday (November 4) issued a warning against creating instability in Lebanon during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
    Hollande's warning came two weeks after a car bombing in Beirut that the political opposition have blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
    Lebanon has been threatened by spillover from the 19-month-old conflict in neighbouring Syria in which 32,000 people have been killed.

    "On Lebanon, this morning I spoke to President Michel Suleiman, and we once again called for the stability, security and integrity of Lebanon and with King Abdullah, we once again sent a warning to anyone who wants to destabilise that country," Hollande told a news conference in the Saudi city of Jeddah after a trip to Beirut.
    Lebanon was thrown into crisis when top anti-Syrian intelligence officer Wissam al-Hassan was killed in a car bomb in Beirut on October 19. He had led an investigation that implicated Syria and its Shi'ite Muslim Lebanese ally Hezbollah in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
    After last month's attack, the political opposition demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose government includes Hezbollah. Syrian troops were garrisoned in Lebanon until 2005.
    Hollande also for a democratic transition in Syria, as the Syrian opposition met in Qatar to chalk out their strategy.

    "France thinks it very important that the Syrian opposition form a government to speed up transition, to give legitimacy to all the opposition, both interior and exterior opposition. And also to ensure that it's a democratic transition that we're talking about so that there are no risks for the post-Assad era," Hollande said.
    The French president reiterated his country's view on Iran's nuclear programme, calling on Tehran to come to talks with new proposals on its atomic programme.

    "Despite the sanctions and despite the pressure, the steps expected from Iran still haven't happened. So we'll continue to exercise all necessary force on Iran, not so that it gives up its civilian nuclear, but so that this country gives up military nuclear because it threatens the region and the world," Hollande said.
    The French president said he discussed human rights as well as women's rights in the Saudi kingdom with King Abdullah.
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