Berri: Le Drian, Quintet support National Moderation Bloc's initiative

French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and the five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, support a presidential initiative by the National Moderation Bloc.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in a televised interview that Le Drian has informed him, in a phone call Sunday, that he and the quintet support the initiative.

The phone call was "good", Berri said.

The initiative, launched in February, calls for consultations in Parliament followed by open electoral sessions that would break Lebanon's presidential vote deadlock.

"The initiative has not ended, but is rather fresh," Berri said, adding that he had encouraged the bloc during a meeting, and vowed to cooperate and facilitate the implementation of their initiative.

Diplomatic sources meanwhile revealed to al-Jumhuriya newspaper, in remarks published Tuesday, that the quintet will continue its efforts and is preparing for a new endeavor. It will likely meet again with Berri, the sources said.