French President Jacques Chirac said Wednesday that France would
deliver its "own resolution" to the United Nations Security Council
even if there was no US agreement over the amendments demanded by
Lebanon.
The hope of a quick adoption of the French-US resolution over
Lebanon faded Tuesday after Lebanon called for the text to be
amended to order an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from
Lebanese territory after ending hostilities.
"If we fail (to reach a solution), we would have a debate at the
Security Council and everyone will clearly affirm his stand," he
was quoted as saying by French national television France 2 in
Toulon, adding that naturally France would present its
resolution.
At the press conference following a cabinet meeting, Chirac
noted that France had asked that the resolution draft integrate
amendments demanded by the Lebanese government.
"It seems indeed that there are American reservations towards
adopting the proposal," he said.
"I cannot imagine that we fail to reach a solution, because that
would mean we accept the situation as it is and renounce calls for
an immediate ceasefire, which would be the most immoral of
solutions," he noted.
French and US diplomats were working Wednesday on a new draft
resolution after Lebanon and Arab nations had opposed the earlier
one.
(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2006)
