"This is a very important political step to which France brings its support," Douste-Blazy said ahead of a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora on the sidelines of a UN Security Council debate in New York.

"We need now to look at how this proposal could be implemented," he told France Inter radio.

Douste-Blazy said he would discuss the Lebanese proposal -- described as "interesting" by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- in the framework of the Security Council and during talks with Siniora and other Arab ministers.

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