Sarkozy: Hezbollah Remains A Terrorist Organization

Ahead of the meeting of the Lebanese factions in Paris, the French President reminds everyone of his position on Hezbollah:

Addressing the issue of [Israeli Soldiers] who were abducted by Hezbollah last summer in a move that sparked the Second Lebanon War, Sarkozy said he considers Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization.
He said his estimation of Hezbollah has not changed despite his government’s issuing of permission of members of the Islamic group to visit France for talks with rival Lebanese factions on the future of the Middle Eastern country.

Was it naive from Mr. Sarkozy to make such a statement? Hezbollah is considered to be the backbone and the engine of the “Lebanese National Opposition”. It wasn’t amused by Sarkozy’s comments. Could it have been a slip by the French President?

Signs point in the other direction; Sarkozy’s comment came a day after the French Ambassador declared from Mukhtara that the French government supports March 14 and the Lebanese government (a comment that angered the Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri)

Perhaps the French policy is to shoot down their own peace initiative after all..