Kouchner Needs More Time to Work Out Lebanon”s Differences

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner failed in the second day of his seventh mission in Lebanon to achieve a breakthrough in the nation”s ongoing presidential crisis.

 

“Work is continuing, meetings are continuing, we”ll be back and you will get the news when work is done,” Kouchner told reporters as he emerged from a three-hour meeting with Majority representative Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at the latter”s residence.

 

The meeting, the second in as many days, was aimed at dealing with differences between the ruling majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition on facilitating the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman for the nation”s top post.

 

Kouchner reportedly has a plan to exit the crisis based on a three-point declaration of principles that would set course for electing Gen. Suleiman.

 

The daily An-Nahar reported that Kouchner made his offer at a tripartite meeting with Berri and Hariri on Wednesday.

 

An-Nahar said Kouchner suggested a formula that carries with it guarantees to both the opposition and the ruling majority.

 

It said the exit plan constitutes a compromise that should end the dispute over the presidential elections.

An-Nahar said Kouchner”s offer comprised three points:

– Consensus on the election of Suleiman and the constitutional amendment mechanism needed for that.
– Formation of a national unity government after the election.

– The holding of parliamentary elections on schedule in the summer of 2009 in line with a new and fair election law.

 

It said the French envoy hopes that both sides will be realistic enough to accept the exit plan.

An-Nahar said Berri and Hariri were expected to discuss Kouchner”s new offer with their allies so as to come out with the “necessary stance.”

 

The daily As-Safir, which is close to the opposition, reported Thursday that the key obstacle was failure to reach agreement on the mechanism to amend Article 49 of the Constitution due to lack of agreement on ways to bridge the gap over the legitimacy of the cabinet.

 

The Hizbullah-led opposition considers Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s government as illegitimate, while the ruling majority insists that the cabinet will not resign.