BEIRUT, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy's top advisor Henry Guaino said here on Tuesday that France cannot solve the Lebanese cabinet crisis alone, but can help in solving it, the local al-Nahar newspaper reported on its website.

    Guaino told reporters in a press conference at the end of his Lebanon visit at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport that Lebanon cannot play an international role without government formation. He added that he heard an optimistic tone from the Lebanese officials regarding a settlement to the cabinet crisis would be reached soon.

    Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is still in his second round of cabinet lineup consultations since he was re-designated PM on September 16, following he stepped down as his first cabinet lineup proposal was rejected by the Hezbollah-dominant opposition.

    It is now in the fourth month that Lebanon has no constitutionally-mandated new cabinet since Hariri was designated PM for the first time on June 27, after his west-backed March 14 Alliance won the June elections over Syria and Iran-backed March 8Alliance.

    "There won't be peace in the Middle East without talking about Lebanon's independence," added Guaino.

    Arrived in Beirut last week, Guaino held talks with major Lebanese politicians, including President Michel Suleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Faoud Siniora, Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri. He did not meet any Hezbollah officials.

    "The Lebanese cabinet crisis is both internal and external," added Guaino, "the Syrian-Saudi summit is very important for the peace process in Lebanon and the region."

    Syria's state news agency confirmed on Monday that King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz will visit Damascus in the coming days. Many see it as heralding a breakthrough in the latest political impasse to have blighted Lebanon.

    However, the responsibility of forming the Lebanese government is purely Lebanese. Lebanon needs democracy as much as it needs national unity.