Berri says his initiative can pave way for speedy presidential election

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that his presidential initiative can “pave the way for presidential elections as soon as possible,” hoping the five-nation group’s expected efforts will lead to “positivities.”

“Let’s sit around a consultations table today, not tomorrow, to agree on what can secure Lebanon’s interest,” Berri added, in remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper published Tuesday.

“This interest lies first in the election of a president, and accordingly the ball is in the court of the various parties, to respond positively and reverse obstruction,” the Speaker said.

Berri also hoped the anticipated endeavor of the quintet “will lead to positivities that would speed up the finalization of the presidential file.”

Berri had on Saturday reiterated his call for “dialogue or consultations for several days followed by successive (electoral) rounds,” noting that the parties would agree that none of them would strip the electoral session of its quorum.

The five-nation group for Lebanon has meanwhile returned the presidential file to the spotlight through a series of meetings aimed at “convincing the parties to go to dialogue,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.

“The behind-the-scenes talks were led by the ambassadors of Egypt and France, Alaa Moussa and Hervé Magro,” al-Akhbar added.

The visitors of Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari meanwhile said that there is Saudi-French coordination to “revive the presidential file.”

“French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian will soon visit Riyadh to meet with Royal Court adviser Nizar al-Aloula in the presence of Bukhari and Magro,” the newspaper quoted the visitors as saying.

Bukhari had visited Berri on Saturday, prior to departing Beirut, to put the Speaker “in the picture of the outcome of the diplomatic efforts,” al-Akhbar said.