By Xinhua,
Beirut : French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived here Saturday morning for a state-visit to Lebanon, local New TV reported.
Sarkozy was received by his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman at the airport, while batteries fired 21 gun salutes for him.
Earlier on Friday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner flew into Beirut to prepare for president Sarkozy’s visit.
Sarkozy is the first Western head of state to arrive in Lebanonto meet newly-elected President Michel Suleiman, who took office on May 25.
Lebanese pro and anti-government politicians reached an agreement in the Qatari capital Doha on May 21, ending a long political deadlock in the country.
The first phase of the agreement led to electing Suleiman as the new president on Sunday after six months of presidential vacuum, while the second step is the formation of a national unity government with veto power for the opposition.
The rival leaders also agreed to adopt 1960 electoral law in the Doha accord, which came after the long ongoing political crisis in the country turned violent earlier in May.