WRAP Sarkozy greets Lebanon president, then Assad; Suleiman comments

(12 Jul 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot car entering Elysee Palace courtyard
2. Policeman on roof looking through binoculars
3. Suleiman walking in front of Republican Guards to be greeted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy
4. Suleiman and Sarkozy shaking hands
5. Close up Suleiman and Sarkozy
6. Suleiman and Sarkozy walking up the stairs of the Elysee Palace, posing for photographers, entering Elysee Palace
7. Wide shot exterior of Elysee Palace
8. Suleiman coming out Elysee Palace
9. Cutaway Suleiman's car
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Michel Suleiman, Lebanese President:
(Reporter's Question: Mr President, the French side is said to have insisted on a normalisation of relations with Syria and the announcement of opening embassies...)
(interrupting) "And we insist on it too. And it is not a 'normalisation'; the relations with Syria are normal as they should be, rather than a normalisation."
11. Cutaway flag
12. Suleiman walking to car and getting in
13. Wide of Elysee Palace courtyard, zoom into car arriving with Syrian President Bashar Assad inside
14. Assad getting out of car, and zoom in as he walks through courtyard, saluting soldiers UPSOUND: Republican Guards playing music
15. Cutaway cameramen
16. Assad walking towards French President Nicolas Sarkozy and shaking hands, zoom in to mid shot as the two leaders walk up stairs, turn around to shake hands again for the cameras before entering the Elysee
17. Security helicopter flying over Elysee palace, tilt down and pan to exterior of Elysee Palace with French and European Union flags
STORYLINE
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday said that Syria's leader is strongly determined to establish diplomatic ties with Lebanon.
Sarkozy also said he will visit Syria in September, marking an end to a chill in ties between the countries.
Sarkozy met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman separately in Paris on Saturday, on the eve of the rare summit among leaders of 43 nations from Europe and the Mediterranean rim.
Suleiman told reporters after his talks with Sarkozy that he wants to establish diplomatic ties with Syria and to visit Damascus.
The two countries have not had embassies in each other's countries since Lebanon became independent in 1943, and have not had diplomatic relations since 2005, when former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed.
Syria's critics accuse Damascus of having a role in the slaying, a charge Syria denies.
New Lebanese-Syrian diplomatic ties would be a boost for Sarkozy who is hosting Sunday's sweeping launch of the Union for the Mediterranean.
He has said the body could transform the volatile Mediterranean basin into a region of peace and prosperity, though his initial vision has been heavily watered down by the European Union.
After talks with Sarkozy, Assad also said he would welcome a French and US contribution towards peace efforts between Syria and Israel.
During Sunday's summit, Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to sit down at the same table for the first time.
In a joint statement at the close of talks on Saturday, Assad said that he would like France and the United States to "fully contribute to a future peace agreement between Syria and Israel."
The Syrian president said he would like to see that happen both in direct peace talks between leaders and in implementing an accord.
Sarkozy's plan to transform the Mediterranean basin into a region of calm and prosperity was supposed to be the pillar of his presidency and a symbol of France's leadership of the European Union, which it holds until the end of the year.

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