Girault Starts Crunch Presidency Talks on Two-Day Visit
The Director of the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry, Jean-François Girault, began Thursday touring senior Lebanese officials to tackle the latest developments, in particularly the presidential vacuum.
Girault discussed with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil at the Bustros Palace the general situation in the region and Lebanon.
He left without making any statement.
The French diplomat arrived Wednesday night on a two-day visit. He will meet with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and political leaders.
Girault's visit coincides with that of Papal envoy to Lebanon former Foreign Minister Monsignor Dominique Mamberti, who left Lebanon on Thursday morning.
Mamberti pressed the importance of ending the presidential vacuum during his meeting with Lebanese officials.
Media reports had said that France, the Vatican and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi are synchronizing their efforts to end the presidential vacuum.
Girault expressed pessimism over the protracting presidential vacuum during his last visit in February, considering an imminent breakthrough is not possible.
Lebanon has been without a president since May last year when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of his successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the elections.
The French diplomat had been in shuttle diplomacy where he held talks in Riyadh, Tehran, Washington and the Vatican over the presidential crisis.
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