Kouchner after meeting Hariri: The most important issue today is peace in the ME

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri , who is in France on a private visit received at his residence French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner .

During their meeting they discussed the current developments in Lebanon and specially the situation of the UNIFIL forces in south Lebanon and the need to enforce UN SCR 1701. (more…)

France: Lebanon should end the war rumors

French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bernard Valero said during his weekly press conference: “For months everyone was talking about the turbulent situation on the Lebanese borders and then strangely, everyone became quiet, and then the rumors restarted.” (more…)

Kremlin: U.N. sanctions prevent Russia from delivering S-300 to Iran

The new U.N. sanctions prevent Russia from delivering S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran, a Kremlin official said Friday, in a reversal of the position announced by Russia’s Foreign Ministry the day before.

The Kremlin statement was sure to please Israel and the United States, which have long urged Russia not to supply the powerful missile system. Russia signed a deal to sell the missiles in 2007, but has delayed their delivery. (more…)

World condemnation of Israel’s violation of international law

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s deadly military attack on an aid convoy Monday, expressing “regret”. Most countries immediately condemned the attack. (more…)

Sarkozy wants to strengthen ties with Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman received Thursday a letter from Nicolas Sarkozy expressing interest in further strengthening the relations between Lebanon and France.

Sarkozy is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday en route to Washington, after he received a last-minute invitation for talks with US President Barack Obama. (more…)

Drill: Assad accuses Israel of trying to ignite war

Syrian president Bashar al assad wo met on Sunday with the visiting French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner in Damascus was very critical of the Israeli drill and pleaded with the West to restrain Jewish state ‘in light of its dangerous tendencies and attempts to spark wars and conflicts, ‘ he said.

“It’s unthinkable that the West keeps silence in light of the Israeli aggression,” Assad said. (more…)

Suleiman: France always stood by Lebanon

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who is currently visiting Lebanon held talks with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace. (more…)

Paintings worth up to $613 million stolen in Paris

A lone thief stole five paintings worth up to half a billion euros ($613 million) total, including major works by Picasso and Matisse, in a brazen overnight heist Thursday from a Paris modern art museum, police and prosecutors said. (more…)

France to fine women with full-face Islamic veils

The French government decided Wednesday to impose a $185 fine on women who wear a full-face Islamic veil in public, pushing ahead with a controversial ban despite signs of tension between France’s Muslims and the Christian-tradition majority.

President Nicolas Sarkozy said his government was forwarding the legislation to parliament because it had a “moral responsibility” to uphold traditional European values in the face of an increasingly visible Muslim population, estimated at more than 5 million, (more…)

France: No Scud evidence in Lebanon

French authorities have no evidence to support claims of Scud missiles in the south of Lebanon, the French defense minister said in Beirut
.

Brig. Gen. Yossi Baidatz, the head of the Israeli army’s intelligence research division, told Israeli lawmakers May 4 that Syria had transferred long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. (more…)