Lebanon must choose destiny without foreign sway: French envoy
It is up to the Lebanese people, not foreign governments, to decide the future of their country, a senior French envoy said Thursday.
The envoy's remarks came at the end of a three-day visit amid ongoing mass protests and a governmental vacuum.
Equally though, many demonstrators have rejected the idea of attempts by foreign powers to interfere in Lebanon, take advantage of the current instability and call the shots based on their own interests.
Farnaud firmly denied the notion that France was intervening in or imposing conditions on Lebanon.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil had told the French envoy in a meeting Wednesday that Lebanon was against foreign meddling. Farnaud recognized Bassil's concern as legitimate, saying he himself had made clear in meetings with Lebanon's senior figures that this was not France's intention.
Whatever the shape of the next government, it must be formed quickly, it must be effective and it must be credible, Farnaud added.
On the question of whether France would offer Lebanon financial support, either through the CEDRE process or otherwise, Farnaud said it was "premature" to discuss the subject.
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