Kaag, Ayrault Discuss Lebanon's Challenges on Eve of Hollande Visit

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault have discussed the challenges that Lebanon is facing on the eve of a visit by French President Francois Hollande to Beirut, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

Kaag and Ayrault called on Lebanese officials following their meeting in Paris on Wednesday to overcome their differences and elect a new president.

The French Foreign Minister said in a statement that “France, together with the International Support Group for Lebanon and the international community, calls on the main Lebanese political actors to overcome their differences.”

He also called for the swift “election of a president and the normal functioning of the institutions.”

Lebanon has been without a head of state for almost two years when the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.

Hollande is scheduled to make a one-day official visit to Beirut on Saturday.

According to An Nahar, he is first expected to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri at the Parliament in Beirut's Nejmeh Square and then head to the Grand Serail for talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

Hollande will later visit “la Résidence des Pins” to meet with members of the French community in Beirut.

A dinner banquet will be thrown in the French president's honor on Saturday night.