BEIRUT: Terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis, Lebanon's presidential impasse and other regional developments will dominate talks between Prime Minister Tammam Salam and senior French officials in Paris.
Salam, accompanied by Defense Minister Samir Moqbel and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, left Wednesday morning on a four-day official visit to Paris.
He is scheduled to hold talks with French President Francois Hollande and other senior officials.
“We will discuss issues that need follow-up, most particularly the French Development Agency’s humanitarian and social assistance, not to mention the political and military support,” Salam said in remarks published Wednesday, only hours before heading to the airport.
"Presidential election is on top of the agenda wherever I go because it's the key to resolving all the problems associated with Lebanon's stability," he told local daily Al-Akhbar. "It will be at the heart of discussions with Hollande,” he stressed.
Salam pointed out that France was working on "some ideas, but nothing is final yet."
He said "terrorism and extremism are also on the agenda, given France’s significant role in the region with the Arabs and towards Lebanon,” he stressed.
Salam described the visit as “significant,” saying France, which has special ties with Lebanon, “is seeking to play a bigger role amid in the difficult circumstances at both the political and military levels," particularly arming of the Army in order to endorse the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.”
The prime minister is also expected to discuss with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian military cooperation between the two countries and the implementation of a $3 billion Saudi gift to equip the Lebanese Army with French weapons, a source close to Salam told The Daily Star Tuesday.
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