Egypt calls Lebanese presidential election a priority
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said on Saturday that a presidential election in Lebanon was an “absolute priority” which much precede any discussion of a new government.
He told acting Lebanese Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri in Cairo that Egypt”s call for an extraordinary Arab League meeting on Sunday was aimed at supporting the people of Lebanon to elect a president, a foreign ministry statement said.
He told acting Lebanese Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri in Cairo that Egypt”s call for an extraordinary Arab League meeting on Sunday was aimed at supporting the people of Lebanon to elect a president, a foreign ministry statement said.
Egypt is “eager to garner comprehensive Arab support to help the Lebanese people choose a new president as an absolute priority… before discussions on many other topics which preoccupy Lebanese politicians,” Abul Gheit said.
Lebanon has been without a president since the mandate of pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud expired on November 23 amid sharp divisions between the ruling majority and the opposition, which is backed by Syria and Iran.
The opposition has been campaigning for a government of national unity since November 2006, when its six ministers quit the cabinet. The opposition later launched a sit-in outside government offices.
On Friday the ruling coalition in Beirut called on Arab foreign ministers due to meet in Cairo on Sunday to protect Lebanon from what it said were Syrian attempts to block the long-overdue election of a new president.
Elections in Beirut”s parliament for a new president have been postponed 11 times, and the legislature is now
due to meet again on January 12 to elect a head of state.
Picture: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, seen here in 2007, has said that a presidential election in Lebanon was an “absolute priority” which much precede any discussion of a new government.
(AFP/File)
(AFP/File)