Girault to Head to Vatican for Talks with al-Rahi

Director of the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry Jean-François Girault is expected to head on Monday to the Vatican to meet with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Thursday, the French diplomat, who ended a two-day official visit to Lebanon will meet with al-Rahi and senior officials at the Vatican to tackle the presidential deadlock in Lebanon.

Al-Rahi traveled on Tuesday to the Vatican on a three-week visit to take part in the meeting of the College of the Cardinals.

Girault met during his visit with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, former President Michel Suleiman and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and several party leaders.

He left on Thursday morning heading back to his country.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Thursday that he discussed with the French official the latest developments in the region.

“I appreciate Girault's mission and France's role in facilitating the presidential stalemate,” Jumblat remarked, noting that the European country is keen to maintain stability in Lebanon and seeking the election of a new head of state more than some Lebanese.

“It's a shame,” he said.

Girault's visit comes in light of his country's insistence to resolve the presidential deadlock in Lebanon and ease the tension.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Suleiman ended without the election of his successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the elections.

Girault recently held talks in Riyadh, Tehran, Washington and the Vatican over the presidential crisis in Lebanon. He also met with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.

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