France Offers To Take Part In Lebanon Peacekeeping Force

ABU DHABI (AP)--France will participate in an international
peacekeeping force for Lebanon under certain conditions, French
Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie said on Saturday.
Such a force would have "no meaning," Alliot-Marie warned, without
contributor countries identifying in advance its duties and how these
would be carried out.

She didn't say how large the force would be.
Alliot-Marie made her comments at a press conference after meeting Abu
Dhabi's crown prince Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed.
While the fighting in Lebanon between Israeli and Hezbollah forces was
part of a larger problem, Alliot-Marie added that a quick end to the
clashes was needed.

"It is not possible to isolate the ongoing crisis from its wider
framework in the region but, first of all, we should look for a quick
solution to the ongoing problem," she said.

France, which has historical ties to Lebanon, backed the idea of an
international peacekeeping force at last week's Group of Eight summit
in Russia.

It is likely to be discussed at Wednesday's meeting in Rome on the
crisis, which will be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice and other key players in the region.

Samedi 22 juillet 2006 / 22h23

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Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net