Lebanon's President Criticizes Romania, France
Joseph S. Mayton - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Beirut, Lebanon (AHN) - Lebanese President Emile Lahoud lashed out against Romania on Tuesday as that nation failed to invite him to a meeting of French-speaking nations. Lahoud added blame to France for pressuring Romania into not inviting the Lebanese President. Officials in Beirut said that Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had been invited to the summit in Bucharest this week but had decided to send Lebanon's culture minister instead of himself. Lahoud was not invited. "It is extremely regrettable to see the Romanian leader responding to pressures exerted by French President [Jacques] Chirac by abstaining from inviting the Lebanese president to chair the Lebanese delegation to the summit meeting," a statement from Lahoud's office said. "His move not only violates all international norms and values but is considered as well a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement added. The French President's office denied exerting any pressure on Romania to not invite Lahoud.
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