Hollande: We will not allow destabilisation in Lebanon

French President Francois Hollande arrived in Beirut on Sunday for a short visit during which he held talks with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman. "I came to Lebanon at a decisivemoment after the assassination of a wonderful person, [Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau Chief] Wissam al-Hassan, and I would like to voice our solidarity with the Lebanese people," Hollande said in a joint press conference following the meeting with Sleiman. Hollande also said that Lebanon must preserve its stability, adding that his country would not spare any effort to guarantee it. "I would say to all those who can contribute to the stability of Lebanon to work through the spirit of dialogue," Hollande said at a joint press conference with President Michel Sleiman at Baabda palace. "I want to remind all those who have an interest in undermining the stability of Lebanon that France would confront that because Lebanon is an example of unity," he said. Hollande added that that amid the restive situation in Syria, "France would offer Lebanon all guarantees for stability and unity." The French President also said there should be no impunity in the February 2005 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the recent murder of General Wissam al-Hasan. In turn, Sleiman said he had discussed with Hollande the efforts exerted to reveal those who were behind the assassination of General Wissam al-Hassan. He also said that the French President reiterated his country's support for the Lebanese army and its intention to provide it with the necessary equipment. Sleiman said he agreed with his French counterpart on the need for dialogue and commitment by all parties in Lebanon to the Baabda Declaration that has been supported by the Security Council and all Arab countries to preserve Lebanon against the repercussions of the regional conflicts. Sleiman also expressed hope that the Syrian people would reach reform and democracy away from violence and foreign military intervention. Hollande's trip to Lebanon is the first by a French President since the previous head of state, Nicolas Sarkozy, visited the country in June 2008. The visit comes two weeks after Lebanon's opposition called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati to resign, accusing the government of complicity with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The resignation call followed a massive car bombing in central Beirut which killed three people in October, including top security official Wissam al-Hassan, in an attack the opposition blamed on Syria and its allies in Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah. Few hours before the visit, sources at the Baabda Palace told Arabstoday that the French President's visit is aimed at expressing support for President Sleiman's efforts to resolve the current political crisis in Lebanon. The talks between Sleiman and Hollande will cover the situation in Lebanon, bilateral relations, developments in the region and the crisis in Syria and its repercussions on Lebanon, the source said. Hollande later went to Jeddah for talks with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz on the international standoff on Iran's contested nuclear programme and the Syrian crisis.