BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 07, SPA -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged strong support for Lebanon's new president and the country's peace efforts shortly after he arrived hereSaturday at the head of a large delegation for a one-dayvisit. Sarkozy is the first Western head of state to meetPresident Michel Suleiman since the former army chief waselected as compromise president on May 25. The election waspart of an agreement signed in Qatar last month to end an18-month political crisis, the Associated Press reported. Sarkozy arrived from Athens and was received at Beirutairport by Suleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora andParliament Speaker Nabih Berri. His office has describedthe visit as an «unprecedented» effort to show Frenchsupport for the Lebanese people. The French president was accompanied by Prime MinisterFrancois Fillon and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/562959