FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER PHILIPPE DOUSTE-BLAZY INSISTED SATURDAY THAT A "SWIFT CEASEFIRE" AND THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY IN THE PRESENT MILITARY FLARE-UP IN LEBANON, DPA REPORTED. "WE HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY TO REACH A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT AND ENSURE THE POLITICAL CONDITIONS THAT PERMIT THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF LEBANESE FORCES ON THE BORDER," DOUSTE-BLAZY TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE END OF A BRIEF VISIT TO JORDAN. "THE FAILURE TO DO SO WILL BE UNJUSTIFIABLE AND WILL LEAD TO FURTHER DETERIORATION BECAUSE VIOLENCE BREADS VIOLENCE," HE SAID. THE FRENCH MINISTER SAID THAT HIS COUNTRY, SUPPORTED BY JORDAN, EGYPT AND OTHER PARTIES, "WILL DEFEND THIS STANCE STRONGLY" ON WEDNESDAY WHEN LEBANON'S FRIENDS OPEN A CONFERENCE IN ROME IN A BID TO HELP THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY. "WE WILL SPEAK LOUDLY AND TELL THE CONFEREES THAT POLITICAL COURAGE TODAY FINDS EXPRESSION IN STOPPING THE AGGRESSION AND CEASING FIRE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO BE SENT TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL," DOUSTE-BLAZY SAID.
