Salam Meets Audeh and Berri, Stresses Need to Unify Stances to Elect President

Prime Minister Tammam Salam emphasized on Saturday that officials' main concern is the election of a new head of state.

He said: “There is a need to unite stances and elect a president as soon as possible.”

He made his remarks after holding talks at the Greek Orthodox archbishopric in Ashrafiyeh to meet Archbishop Elias Audeh.

The meeting addressed pending issues and the need to unite politicians given their divisions.

Salam later met with Speaker Nabih Berri where talks focused on the latest developments in Lebanon.

“We hope that we have a more productive dialogue in the coming year,” said Salam in a statement after he left Ain el-Tineh.

He stressed that the oil exploration file requires politicians to take some stances and agree on a number measures.

“I have warned that Lebanon is witnessing a difficult stage in light of the presidential vacuum,” he said, adding “the oil file is crucial and I call on all politicians to benefit from the atmospheres of dialogue.”

The PM then reiterated that the “the most important file is that of electing a president.”

To a question on the abducted soldiers, he said: “The file of the abducted servicemen in Arsal is a critical one, that’s why I have vowed to myself to keep secret all efforts in that regard until we solve this problem.”

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the election of his successor.

M.T./D.A.