KSA stance 'unchanged' after Yarze talks, Paris says 'no veto' on anyone

Thursday’s meeting in Yarze between Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari and Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh “did not change the kingdom’s stance as to what it has declared regarding the Lebanese presidential juncture,” a media report said on Friday.

“What Franjieh heard from the ambassador was the same stance that the other parties heard from him: his country does not have any problem with anyone and it does not support or veto anyone,” Annahar newspaper reported.

“Accordingly, the Lebanese themselves must choose their president,” the daily quoted Bukhari as telling Franjieh.

A senior French diplomat meanwhile told the newspaper that “France has no veto on any presidential candidate in Lebanon,” when asked whether Paris has backed down from a proposal calling for Franjieh’s election as president and Nawaf Salam’s appointment as premier.

“Suleiman Franjieh can become president and so can any other figure. Joseph Aoun for example is an excellent army commander and is an upright figure whom we respect. He can also become president and there are others as well, but the problem lies in the political obstacles and gathering a parliamentary majority that would allow any candidate to be elected,” the diplomat said.

He added: “What applies to Suleiman Franjieh applies to others. If we look at the Lebanese institutions, we understand that it is not enough for Lebanon for a president to be elected. Any president is required to commit to the implementation of certain matters, such as refraining from using the one-third-plus-one veto power (in Cabinet) and backing the premier in the implementation of reforms.”