Lebanon”s Presidential Crisis Not Settled, Yet
French, Arab, U.S. and Russian efforts have so far failed to strike a breakthrough that could settle the dispute plaguing Lebanon”s Presidential elections.
A scheduled joint news conference by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa to reveal outcome of their day-long efforts was called off early in the evening, indicating that a settlement has not been reached.
Moussa throughout the day held separate talks with Premier Fouad Saniora, resigned Foreign Minister Fawzi Saloukh speaker Nabih Berri and Druze leader Walid Jumblat in an effort to work out a settlement that could salvage the election of a new head of state to succeed Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud whose extended term in office expires at midnight Friday.
Moussa stressed after talks with Saloukh that hope exists concerning the presidential election.
He told reporters after talks with Berri that discussions focus on the presidential elections that are “facing many obstacles, which we are trying to overcome,” stressing that “discussing candidates is a strictly Lebanese issue.”
A meeting between Moussa and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea could not be held due to bad weather conditions.
After an evening meeting with Jumblat, Moussa said: “I have hope, but I am cautiously worried.”
Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman held talks with ex-minister Suleiman Franjieh, a prominent ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Feltman refused to make any statement after the talks.
Kouchner, in Lebanon to shepherd the presidential elections, held talks with ex-President Amin Gemayel and
Berri.
After his talks with Gemayel, Kouchner voiced cautious optimism, stressing that “we”ll have a happy surprise. The wheels are still running. I still believe that Friday is another day.”
“It is up to the Lebanese to elect a president on Friday,” he added.
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, on his part, received at his seat in Bkirki MP Samir Franjieh, ex-MP Faris Saeyd and ex-Premier Najib Mikati and held a telephone discussion with Berri.
Mikati stressed after the talks with Sfeir that in case a president was not elected within the constitutional timeline, the president”s authorities would be referred to Premier Fouad Saniora”s Government.
After the talks with Sfeir, Saeyd told reporters Syria and Iran are blocking the presidential election and urged Berri to shoulder his responsibility.
In a related development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the Lebanon situation with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem and U.N. Secretary General Ban ki-Moon.
The Russian move coincided with an announcement in Rome that foreign ministers of Italy, France and Spain are to meet in Beirut Thursday to help facilitate the Presidential election.