Jones Meets Hariri, Deems Berri Proposal as 'Interesting'

U.S. Charge d'Affaires Richard Jones urged on Tuesday the Lebanese people to exert all possible efforts to end the vacuum in the presidency.

He deemed after holding talks with Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri Speaker Nabih Berri's proposal to end the deadlock as “interesting.”

He urged all concerned sides to take it into consideration, noting that it could be a way to end the impasse in the country.

The ambassador warned of the impact the vacuum is having on state institutions, saying that the Lebanese people should find a solution to electing a head of state.

Berri's proposal, made last week, calls for shortening the term of the current parliament and staging the parliamentary polls and later the presidential ones.

The parliamentary elections would be held based on the proportionality electoral law.

Should the political powers fail to agree on this law, then the 1960 one would be used. This law was adopted in the 2009 elections.

The package deal also calls for electing a new parliament speaker and bureau and forming a national unity government.

M.T.

D.A.