Plumbly Meets Berri, Warns Time is Running Short to Form Cabinet, Agree on Vote Law

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly encouraged on Monday political officials in Lebanon to form a new government and reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law.

He said: “I said last week that time is short and obviously now it is shorter still.”

He made his remarks after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri.

“I believe that agreement is within reach of Lebanon’s leaders and I would encourage them to continue to work with the speaker and to redouble their efforts to achieve it,” Plumbly stressed.

“On a number of occasions recently, members of the international community have stressed the importance of swift progress with regard to agreement on the electoral law,” he revealed.

Plumbly and Berri also discussed the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and regional developments, as well as the importance of sustaining Lebanon’s policy of dissociation from regional conflicts and respecting the Baabda Declaration.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is holding consultations with political powers to reach an agreement over a new government.

He has repeatedly stressed that he is seeking the formation of a cabinet capable of staging and overseeing the parliamentary elections.

Political powers have so far failed to agree on a new electoral law, which is threatening the postponement of the elections that are set for June 16.