AFP,PARIS – French Prime Minister François Fillon, who on a two-day visit to Lebanon, assured in an interview with three Lebanese newspapers that France "is committed to helping" the country "to revive its economy." "My visit has both a political and economic purpose because those two dimensions are closely linked. After helping Lebanon regaining political stability, France is now committed to help revive its economy, "says the head of the government to an-Nahar, Assaf and L'Orient-Le Jour." It the reason of the presence here today of many French business leaders interested in economic opportunities in Lebanon, "says Fillon who will be accompanied by more than fifty SME and large French companies. 

The Prime Minister announced the signing of several important agreements, mainly economic. The crisis will not prevent France from honoring the promise of aid of 500 million Euros in January 2007, he says, stressing it is "linked to the reform of the Lebanese government" particularly in telecommunications and energy. The budget for military cooperation would also be maintained next year. As for continued dialogue among all Lebanese political forces, Mr Fillon says that France is ready, if requested by Lebanon, to "accompany the orderly conduct of elections" set in the spring legislative, stressing that France is "the friend of all Lebanese." In addition, Mr Fillon wishes to reaffirm "the commitment of France for the implementation" of Resolution 1701 of the United Nations that ended the conflict in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.