Quintet ambassadors meet Franjieh, Gemayel as they resume presidential mission

The ambassadors of the five-nation group for Lebanon met Wednesday Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh in Bnashii and Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel in Bekfaya, as they resumed their efforts to end the presidential impasse in Lebanon.

The quintet's ambassadors had held Tuesday a consultative meeting at the residence of the Egyptian envoy and will meet this week with several parliamentary blocs.

Crisis-hit Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the majority required to elect one.

The international community and the five-nation group have long urged Lebanese leaders to end months of political wrangling and stem the financial meltdown.

Egyptian Ambassador Alaa Moussa told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Wednesday, that the quintet is less interested in the details than it is in the bigger picture.

He said the ambassadors do not give great importance to details, such as how the blocs will meet to discuss the name of a president, who will chair the meeting and whether it would be called "a dialogue" or "consultations". "We are looking for ways to reach an agreement on the broad lines," he said.

After he met with Gemayel Wednesday, Moussa described the meeting as "constructive". He said the quintet is trying "to build bridges" and "increase trust" between the Lebanese blocs. "The common ground is increasing day after day," Moussa said.