Report: Hariri to Meet Kerry in Paris Next Week

Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri is scheduled to hold talks next week with United States Secretary of State John Kerry, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Friday.

An informed source told the daily that the two officials are set to meet in the French capital Paris on Thursday.

The source did not disclose the details of the expected talks.

Kerry had paid a brief visit to Lebanon on June 4 during which he held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

He highlighted during his trip the negative impact the Syrian crisis is having on Lebanon, urging Hizbullah, Iran, and Russia to help end the war in the country.

He also voiced his concern over the “deeply troubling” political stalemate in Lebanon given the political powers' failure to elect a new president.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May with lawmakers failing to elect his successor due to disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps.

Seven presidential elections sessions were held without a new head of state being elected.

The eighth session is scheduled for July 2.

M.T.