French, US and Saudi diplomats to visit Lebanon in presidential push
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has called for parliament to convene on January 9 to elect a president, in an attempt to break a gridlock of over two years and reactivate the country's crippled state institutions.
The session will be open with successive rounds. "We might hold several rounds in the same session, what's important is for parliament to elect a president and for MPs to shoulder their responsibilities," Berri told An-Nahar newspaper, in remarks published Monday.
French Foreign Affairs minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Minister of the French Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu are expected Monday in Lebanon, where they will urge Lebanese key players to end the presidential crisis, local media reports said.
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan are also excepted to visit Lebanon in early January to discuss the presidential vote. Hochstein will meet with Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and will also discuss in Lebanon a ceasefire reached in late November with Israel, al-Jadeed TV channel said.
Pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said the French, Saudi and U.S. delegations will push for the election of Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun.
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, and unable to reach a consensus.
Source: Naharnet
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