Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Thursday with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who hailed the recent improvement of ties between Lebanon and Syria, pointing to Paris' role in this respect. "There is a problem regarding border demarcation," Kouchner told reporters following the meeting. He urged "cooperation" from both the Lebanese and Syrian sides to help resolve this issue.
On efforts to secure an Israeli withdrawal from the border town of Ghajar, Kouchner recalled that Israel has twice announced its readiness to pullout from the Lebanese part of the village, "but every time the withdrawal plan hits a snag."
Kouchner, however, unveiled that efforts were underway to remove obstacles facing withdrawal from Ghajar.
He said France hopes the situation in the Middle East would remain calm and called on everyone to show restraint and refrain from waging war.
Hariri, who arrived in Paris on Wednesday, is scheduled to meet other French officials for talks on regional developments and ways to enhance bilateral ties.
Lebanon and France will sign five significant agreements.
The French foreign ministry described Hariri's visit as an "opportunity to express France's firm support for Lebanon and its institutions" and to renew Paris' "commitment to Lebanon's stability, unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."
A statement issued by the ministry said France will also use this opportunity to "reiterate the need to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and to emphasize the essential role played by UNIFIL."