Al Jazeera – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is in Beirut for talks with Lebanese leaders in an attempt to end months of political paralysis that has stalled the formation of a new government in the crisis-hit country.
Le Drian met President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace on Thursday morning for about 30 minutes during which they discussed developments related to the government formation process, according to a presidential statement.
Aoun asserted it was his constitutional duty to “maintain sectarian and political balance in the government formation process”. He also assured the French foreign minister Lebanon was taking the reforms promised to France in September last year and asked for assistance in an investigation into looted funds transferred abroad.
Le Drian later also met Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tine. He did not make a public statement.
Local media reported that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was meeting with Le Drian at the French ambassador’s Pine Residence on Thursday evening.
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