Berri Tries to Absorb Sarkozy”s U.S.-Backed “Last Chance” Warning

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri tried to absorb a U.S.-backed French warning that Monday is the last chance to elect a president, saying the legislature”s time frame to accomplish the mission extends to December 31.

 

Berri”s remark followed U.S. backing to French President Nicolas Sarkozy that Monday is the “last chance” to elect a president for Lebanon.

 

“We respect the French president, but Monday is not the last chance,” Berri was quoted by the daily an-Nahar as telling his visitors.

 

“We are working day and night to accomplish this election. The chance is not open till Monday only, but to end of this year. That is why we hope to elect a new president before end of the year,” Berri added.

 

The Parliament speaker, who also is a prominent leader of the Hizbullah-led opposition, made the remark after visiting U.S. envoy David Welch voiced support for Sarkozy”s stand, Premier Fouad Saniora”s majority government and “any decisions” that would be taken by the March 14 majority alliance to elect a president.

 

Welch said he “made several points to the speaker (Berri) speaking on behalf of the American administration.”

 

“I think President Sarkozy is right. It is time to elect a president,” Welch said.

 

Welch is to hold talks Sunday with Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman, the frontrunner for the presidential office, whose nomination to the top post has been accepted by the feuding factions, despite an ongoing dispute on the mechanism to amend the constitution, a step needed to open the door for his election.

The U.S. envoy held talks on Saturday with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, Berri, Saniora, Defense Minister Elias Murr, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and al-Moustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri.

 

Welch discussed with Berri on Saturday the need to elect a president “as long as the Lebanese factions have reached consensus on Gen. Suleiman.”

 

“The United States believes that it is time now to elect a new president,” said the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs after his round of talks on Saturday.

 

Welch”s agenda in Lebanon, as released, does not include a meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who has been assigned by the opposition to negotiate with the majority a parcel of conditions set to facilitate Suleiman”s election.

 

An-Nahar said Berri briefed Aoun by telephone on the talks with Welch.

 

Sources from the March 14 majority noted that the alliance would have a new plan of action to follow if a head of state was not voted into office by end of this year.

 

Details of such action plan, however, have not been disclosed.

 

Welch said on Saturday: “it is time for this process to be completed. There is no reason for any further delay.”

“We understand that Lebanon has done the most difficult work of finding a candidate who represents the consensus,” Welch said in reference to Suleiman.

 

“It is not our job to find a president for Lebanon. It is Lebanon”s job and that job has been done.”

 

On Monday MPs must “fulfill their duty … to restore dignity and respect to the most important Christian office” and elect a president, Welch said, stressing that Washington “supports the majority and their decision” concerning the election.

“We know there are many pressures from within and from outside, but the American people and the administration will support Lebanon,” Welch said in reference to Syria, Iran and the Hizbullah-led opposition.