FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SAID WEDNESDAY THAT NATO SHOULD NOT LEAD A PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN LEBANON, SAYING THE ALLIANCE IS SEEN IN THE REGION AS «THE ARMED WING OF THE WEST.» «AS FAR AS FRANCE IS CONCERNED, IT IS NOT NATO'S MISSION TO PUT TOGETHER SUCH A FORCE,» CHIRAC TOLD THE DAILY NEWSPAPER LE MONDE. «WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, NATO IS PERCEIVED AS THE ARMED WING OF THE WEST IN THESE REGIONS, AND AS A RESULT, IN TERMS OF IMAGE, NATO IS NOT INTENDED FOR THIS.»
