PARIS- France reiterated its position Monday regarding the role Syria should play in the blocked situation in neighbouring Lebanon and the government here said that Syria "must play a positive" role and use its influence in a good way in this context.

Asked to comment on statements by European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, who called for increased international pressure to be brought to bear on Syria, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said France share this view.

"Our position has not changed. Like the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, we believe Syria, like all the parties, must exercise a positive influence in Lebanon in order to allow for the election of a Lebanese President in conformity with the plan adopted unanimously by the Arab League," she added.

Lebanon has failed to find a compromise deal on a new President since last November, and has not either managed to agree on a national unity government and electoral reform. A total of 16 meetings of parliamentarians have ended in stalemate on this issue.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on March 25, but officials here are sceptical progress can be made without the full backing of Syria and given the lack of goodwill between the Lebanese parties, themselves. At the same time, France has little leverage with Syria as relations are once again at a low point and an earlier attempt to end the Lebanese stalemate and secret contacts between Paris and Damascus begun last September ended in nothing, if not acrimonious accusations.  -Kuna