Brussels, 23/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - At France's request, the European Council reaffirmed its attachment on Wednesday to a sovereign, independent and democratic Lebanon. It underlined the importance of Resolution 1559 of the UN Security Council and expressed its full support to the mission of the Special Envoy to the UN Secretary General. The European Council is calling on Syria to rapidly implement the commitments taken by the Syrian president on 12 March to withdraw Syrian troops and intelligence services from the Lebanon. This withdrawal should be complete and according to a specific timetable. The European Council wants the new government to be set up swiftly and that it acts in the interest of all Lebanese. The European Council affirmed that, “this government should be able to organise free, transparent and fair elections according to the planned timetable, in compliance with the Lebanese Constitution and free from any outside or foreign interference”. It added that the EU was “scrupulously following the electoral process and was preparing to provide its assistance”.