Abou Faour Says 'Settlement' Making 'Progress' after Franjieh's Remarks
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour declared Friday that the proposed presidential settlement has started to make "one progress after another," a day after Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh officially announced his nomination for the presidency.
“The presidential settlement is still on the table and we salute the reconciliatory tone that MP Suleiman Franjieh showed during his TV interview,” Abou Faour, who is close to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, said.
“The stances that he voiced yesterday were a clear evidence that this settlement has not collapsed, although some parties are claiming that it is teetering,” the minister added.
He however noted that the suggested initiative “requires extra efforts from both the March 8 and March 14 camps,” urging them to engage in “further deliberations and consultations.”
“Franjieh's declaration of his presidential nomination will give this initiative and settlement a new momentum and Walid Jumblat will continue exerting efforts for the success of this settlement,” Abou Faour added.
“We are making extra endeavors and there are a lot of confidential contacts that confirm that this proposed settlement is making one progress after another,” the minister revealed.
He also pointed out that “some parties who had voiced inflexible stances have started dealing with this initiative in a positive approach.”
Jumblat had met with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri in Paris in the wake of a similar meeting between the former premier and Franjieh.
The PSP leader met later in Beirut with the Marada Movement chief and he has been described by media reports as one of the architects of the proposed settlement.
The initiative appeared to be on the verge of collapse in recent days after it drew reservations from the country's main Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party.
Hizbullah is also reportedly insisting on the nomination of Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 alliances over a consensual candidate have thwarted the polls.
Y.R.
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