French Ambassador Denis Pietton has elaborated on France’s confirmation Friday that it will soon provide the Lebanese Army with 100 HOT anti-tank missiles.
In an interview with The Daily Star Tuesday, Pietton said this upcoming transfer was part of “a commitment that was made a long time ago by the French government.” He noted that the deal has been in the works since May, and that it includes “some [French] assistance … to update and maintain the French helicopters that [the Lebanese Army already] has.” Pietton emphasized that in providing the Lebanese Armed Forces with missiles, France is putting its verbal support for Lebanese sovereignty into action.
“We keep saying that we are committed to [Lebanese] independence and sovereignty. One way … of translating this commitment into deeds is to support the army. You cannot say that you want the Lebanese Army to be … [solely] in charge of the defense of the country, and at the same time refuse [it] … basic equipment.”
Both Israeli and American officials have expressed concern that funding or weapons given to the Lebanese Army may fall into the hands of Hizbullah.
In August, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee warned that providing Lebanon with weapons “would be very irresponsible and could jeopardize security and stability in the region.” After an Israeli soldier was killed in August border clashes, which also left two Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist dead, the US temporarily suspended $100 million in military aid to Lebanon.
Israel has recently expressed similar worries. An anonymous Israeli military official was quoted last week as saying “we have raised with foreign governments our concerns over Hizbullah’s growing domination of the Lebanese government apparatus and concern that weapons transfer to the Lebanese forces will in fact become part of the Hizbullah arsenal.”
Pietton expressed confidence these fears will not be realized. “We know what the concerns of the Israelis are, [and] we take them into account,” he said. “We have a strategic dialogue with Israel which is ongoing, and we are in the position to provide the Israelis with … information to make them understand that what we are doing is not against the interests of Israel. Indeed, it is in the interest of Lebanon and the independence of Lebanon which is dear to us.” Pietton also remarked that he “doubts very much” there is a connection between Sunday’s Israeli military exercises near the Lebanese border, which included live fire, and Friday’s announcement.
The ambassador also underlined French support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), words that France backed up earlier this month with a $2 million donation to the investigation into former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination in 2005. In the face of concerns that a forthcoming indictment might cause instability in the country, Pietton emphasized that justice and stability are “not [mutually] exclusive,” and that “what we wish for Lebanon is justice, because we think that in the long run justice is a key factor for stability.”
Of a Monday comment by Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneï that any STL verdict would be “null and void,” Pietton said he was “not particularly concerned.” He urged restraint in speech, saying that “as the situation evolves … there are some statements which fuel anxiety and create a climate which is not conducive to stability.” While acknowledging that Lebanon’s current political deadlock is problematic, Pietton said “we think the fact that the Council of Ministers met recently is positive.” He said France is “concerned” that the Council is not in a position to make decisions for the country – he specifically mentioned an inability to address issues of poor infrastructure. “I hope that when the indictment is behind us the government will be able to resume normally, Pietton said.
In contrast to a November statement by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini that the release of US diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks “will be the September 11th of world diplomacy,” Pietton was relatively calm about the implications.
“[The release] is troubling and it could be embarrassing for some people,” he said. “But I don’t think that in the long run it will affect diplomatic work and relations. It shows that American diplomats do their jobs.”
