Beirut has no intention of taking the initiative in announcing the postponement of the Francophone Summit, in what could imply a lack of the needed stability for such a major event, a senior political source said on Friday.
The official told the Beirut-based Daily Star that in the past few days, France had explored the possibility of postponing the summit, but preferred that such a move be announced by Lebanon.
According to the political source, President Emile Lahoud would only approve a postponement if there was a “valid reason.”
There have been no recent contacts between French President Jacques Chirac and Lahoud. But Chirac is believed to have recommended a postponement to Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the official told the paper.
Lahoud specified on Friday that the UN General Assembly would convene on November 10, and that he had still not decided whether or not he would participate.
Asked about the possibility of postponing the Francophone Summit, Lahoud said that as far as Lebanon was concerned, the country had “completed all security, logistical and organizational measures needed to host participants in the summit.
“Lebanon did not ask for the summit’s postponement, especially [since] security is well established in the country," he added.
He further said that contacts will be made to assess the positions of countries taking part in the summit, and that of the Francophone Organization’s General Secretariat, before deciding on a final date for the summit.
Prior to a cabinet meeting Thursday, Lahoud told ministers that he would prefer not to discuss the Francophone issue, said the paper.
But it was raised by Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh, to the president’s irritation, it added – Albawaba.com
