Hariri: We Hope Dialogue with Aoun Would Continue Positively

Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri emphasized on Friday the importance of dialogue in Lebanon as a means to reach solutions to pending issues, while describing as “positive” his talks with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Wednesday.

He said: “The fact that dialogue with the MP took place is positive and our dialogue with him had started over a year ago.”

“We hope that it will continue positively,” he added.

“The election of a president is a priority and we hope that our ties with Aoun, our allies, and our dialogue with Hizbullah and the AMAL Movement would pave the way for achieving this goal,” he remarked.

Moreover, Hariri stated: “Terrorism can be combated by the army and security forces, but this mission cannot be complete without a new head of state.”

“The presence of a president is necessary because he can hold dialogue with all sides without exception,” said the former premier.

“Failure to elect a head of state is shameful,” he noted.

Hariri had held talks on Friday with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan and a number of muftis from regions throughout Lebanon.

Hariri and Aoun had not met in public in more than five years. They however held talks that were kept under wraps in 2014 in Rome.

Their talks on Wednesday tackled the latest local and regional developments, but media reports said that they did not address the presidential polls.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

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

M.T.

Y.R.