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French President Jacques Chirac on Monday said violence would erupt afresh in Lebanon, as there was no long-term settlement involving all parties in the region.

At an annual gathering of French ambassadors in Paris, Chirac said the United Nations Resolution 1701 offered "the framework for a durable settlement based on Israel's security and Lebanon's sovereignty over its whole territory".

The resolution, adopted unanimously by the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, established a truce between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah following their one-month conflict.

"The choice is between a resumption of hostilities, creating a permanent rift between two neighboring peoples, and the political option of a global and durable settlement," he said.

Chirac said the resolution "outlines a process which must lead to the disarmament of militias and the settlement of border questions, including that of the Shebaa Farms," a territory situated at the borders of Lebanon, Syria and Israel and disputed by the three countries.

Chirac also called for Israel to lift its six-week air and sea blockade against Lebanon, which was aimed at cutting Hezbollah's supply lines.

He said it was "seriously harming the Lebanese economy" and was" preventing a return to normal".

Meanwhile, the French leader also urged Syria to "move beyond its isolationist logic".

"The Middle East needs Syria to be active in the service of peace and regional stability," he said, adding that all the countries of the region should understand that a sovereign and independent Lebanon was the best guarantee of their legitimate interests, and security in particular.

Editor: Yan