Hollande calls on Lebanon to elect a new president

France opposes foreign intervention in Lebanon but will do its best to encourage the election of a new president as soon as possible, French President François Hollande said Tuesday.
“France is ready to take initiative in international gatherings to speed up the presidential election process,” Hollande told Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai in a meeting in Paris.
“France does not interfere in Lebanese domestic affairs, but believes that the election of a president would help normalize the functioning of political institutions.”
Hollande added that his country would always stand by Lebanon and support its Army in the battle against terrorism.
The meeting came during Rai’s four-day trip to Paris that was focused on pushing for a solution to end the 11-month presidential vacuum in Lebanon.
He departed to Beirut on a private jet later Tuesday.