On Saturday, the Syrian president is set to hold face-to-face talks with Sarkozy, marking the first meeting between the heads ofstate of the two countries in many years.

The next day, the Syrian leader will take part in the inauguralUPM summit, where "almost all heads of state and government from the Mediterranean region and Europe" will be present, according toa statement issued by the French presidential palace

"I told Bashar al-Assad that Syria should let the Lebanese presidential process to move forward and we will resume official contacts. I'm happy to announce that we have resumed contact," said President Sarkozy in mid-June explaining the resumption of Paris-Damascus dialogue.

After months of political deadlock in Lebanon, the pro-West majority and the opposition, which is often seen as Pro-Syria, metin Doha, Qatar, and concluded an agreement paving the way for the formation of a government of national unity and election of consensus president.

During his interview with the French media, al-Assad was quotedas asking France to "play an important role" in the ongoing peace process in the Middle East, including the negotiations that are taking place between Syria and Israel through the mediation of Turkey.

But if the arrival of the Syrian president in Paris has been welcomed in Damascus, it has been accompanied by a hardening of attitudes in Lebanon. The largely pro-West majority has described the normalization of Paris-Damascus ties as "premature."

Before welcoming al-Assad to Paris, "We would like France to first obtain an assurance from Syria that it will change its attitude and behavior towards Lebanon," Amine Gemayel, one of the leaders of the majority, was quoted as saying in mid-June.