Moussa Predicts Settlement “In a Couple of Days”
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Wednesday a solution to Lebanon”s ongoing presidential crisis could be reached “in a couple of days” and described his initial talks here as “encouraging.”
Moussa flew in to facilitate the implementation of an Arab initiative calling for the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president and the formation of a government in which he calls the shots.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at the latter”s residence in Ain el-Tineh, Moussa said his talks were “useful, very positive and encouraging too.”
In answering a question as to whether he would leave Lebanon prior to working out a settlement, Moussa said: “I intend to stay until this solution is achieved, and it could be achieved in a couple of days.”
Asked whether he is optimistic about the possibility of electing Suleiman in a parliamentary session scheduled for Saturday, Moussa said: “I”ll be here next Saturday.”
He noted that his mission is “not to provide clarifications. The initiative is crystal clear and the issue is related to political will and needs neither clarification nor explanation or dictionary or atlas.”
When told that the feuding factions in Lebanon have conflicting interpretations of the initiative, Moussa replied: “let”s not get into small issues through which Lebanon can be lost.”
Moussa said a roadside bomb attack against a vehicle belonging to U.N. peacekeepers in the southern coastal town of Rmaileh on Tuesday is “a negative development, but we hope that it would not affect our efforts to contain the crisis and settle it.”
Saudi and Syrian cooperation aimed at supporting his efforts is “available, I”m a witness to its existence and I am very pleased by progress that has been achieved,” Moussa said.
He recalled that “the discussion between Saudi and Syrian Foreign Ministers Prince Saud al-Faisal and Walid Muallem, respectively, was positive and carried out in a brotherly spirit. The text (of the initiative) was phrased with their presence, participation and approval and enjoyed their clear pledges.
“So, here I speak on behalf of all the Arab states, Syria and Saudi Arabia included.”
Talks in the first day of Moussa”s open-ended mission in Lebanon could last until “after midnight,” he said.