Girault Pessimistic over Regional Breakthrough for Presidential Deadlock, to Meet al-Rahi Monday

The Director of the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry, Jean-François Girault, reportedly expressed pessimism over the near end of Lebanon presidential stalemate.

Sources said in comments published in the pan Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat published on Sunday, Girault is seeking to convince Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and the political arch-foes in Lebanon to play a main role at the delicate stage that the country is passing through.

“Any breakthrough should be carried out by the rival parties as the regional developments are not encouraging,” the sources told the newspaper.

Girault is expected to hold talks with al-Rahi on Monday.

The Patriarch traveled on Tuesday on a three-week visit to take part in the meeting of the College of the Cardinals.

The French diplomat concluded on Thursday a two-day visit to Lebanon as his country is seeking to press officials to end the presidential stalemate and ease the tension.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel 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-Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.

He last visited Lebanon in December, where he met during his two-day visit prominent Lebanese officials.