Hizbullah-Bkirki Committee Meets in Dahiyeh, Talks Focus on Presidential Vacuum

The members of the committee tasked with following up on the dialogue between Bkirki and Hizbullah met again in Beirut's southern suburbs – Dahiyeh to follow up their latest meeting in February.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Wednesday, talks focused on the importance of electing a new head of state and fears of the ongoing vacuum.

Bkirki representatives reportedly warned of further delay, which violates the Constitution and consensus, expressing concern that vacuum would impact the remaining state institutions.

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

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

The daily said that Bkirki officials also highlighted the importance of electing a strong president, who is capable of gathering the Lebanese.

However, Hizbullah representatives stressed that the presidential vacuum is being thoroughly discussed by the rival political parties.

The committee's members Bishop Samir Mazloum, Hizbullah official Hareth Shehab, Hajj Mahmoud Qmati, Abou Zainab and Hajj Moustapha al-Hajj Ali attended the talks.

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal recently kicked off dialogue at Ain el-Tineh under the sponsorship of Speaker Nabih Berri as representatives of the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement began preparing for a similar dialogue to take part between LF chief Samir Geagea and FPM leader Michel Aoun.

In February, the committee resumed its meetings for the first time since Hizbullah politburo member Qmati assumed the tasks of his predecessor Ghaleb Abou Zaynab.

The meeting was held at the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki.

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