Moussa: “Possibility” to Reach Understanding in Cairo Meeting

Arab League Chief Amr Moussa has said Arab foreign ministers will likely reach an understanding over the Lebanese presidential crisis during a meeting in Cairo Sunday.

 

“There is a possibility to reach an Arab understanding over Lebanon”s problem,” in the Egyptian capital, Moussa said Thursday during a late night interview with al-Arabiya TV network.

 

Moussa also stressed the need for local, regional and international efforts to solve Lebanon”s ongoing political crisis.

 

“The responsibility to solve this country”s problem is Lebanese, Arab, regional and international,” Moussa said.

But he stressed that “responsibly lies with Lebanese leaders before Arab, regional or international” efforts to find a way out of the crisis that worsened after the term of President Emile Lahoud ended with bickering politicians unable to agree on how to choose a successor.

 

Also Thursday, the cabinet decided that acting Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri would head the delegation to Cairo, which will include Premier Fouad Saniora”s adviser, Mohammad Shattah, and the Foreign Ministry”s director general, Bassam Naamani, among other officials.

 

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Sunday”s meeting “is an important opportunity for wide Arab talks to find ways” to help the Lebanese choose their head of state.

 

He said Egypt was worried over the presidential vacuum, expressing fears that prolonging the crisis could have “negative impact” on security.