The Free Patriotic Movement announced Tuesday that it is determined with the Lebanese Forces to reach "common denominators" in their ongoing dialogue, despite “difficulties and obstacles” hindering the unprecedented talks between the two rivals.

“Everyone knows that the details of our talks with the LF are being kept confidential and dialogue aims to reach common solutions to pave the way for a breakthrough in the current crisis,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the weekly meeting of the FPM's Change and Reform bloc in Rabieh.

Speaker Nabih Berri announced Monday that he is encouraging dialogue between Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, noting that he would endorse any agreement they might reach over the stalled presidential vote.

“We had a chance to Lebanonize the presidential election, especially as the foreign forces were preoccupied with their problems,” Berri told a delegation from the council of the Lebanese Press Syndicate that visited him in Ain al-Tineh.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has said that he wants to reach a “deep and effective” understanding with his rival Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“Dialogue would resolve a lot of problems, including the presidency … but things need time,” Geagea said on Monday about his upcoming talks with Aoun.

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan described his meeting with Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea as “friendly and frank” in dealing with issues of contention between the two rival sides, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily: “Contacts are ongoing and constant between the two sides and this is a critical phase in the talks.”

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan met on Friday with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea at his Maarab residence as part of preparations for the document of principles between the two sides, as sources close to the conferees denied reports of a possible “bargain” between Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun.

OTV revealed that Kanaan and Geagea held talks for two hours aimed at “reducing obstacles” hindering the document.

The Council of Maronite bishops welcomed on Friday the dialogue among the country's different factions, hoping that it would lead to the election of a new president, and urged the Lebanese to back the state at this critical stage.

The bishops hoped in a statement following their monthly meeting in Bkirki that “talks among the Lebanese political parties would be aimed at electing a head of state.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi revealed Thursday that the Vatican is exerting major efforts to end the presidential vacuum in Lebanon, as he hailed the recent rapprochement between Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

“The Vatican spares no chance or effort with all countries for the sake of the election of a new president in Lebanon,” al-Rahi said at Beirut's airport upon his return from Rome.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea wished on Wednesday his rival Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun a happy birthday, hoping that tensions would be eased between the two sides.

He tweeted: “I hope that we would have reached a complete political agreement before your birthday next year.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed regret on Wednesday that the state is decaying over the failure to elect a new head of state and expressed optimism on reaching an agreement with his rivals in the Free Patriotic Movement.

“In the absence of a president, the state is eroding bit by bit,” said Geagea during a press conference he held at his residence in Maarab, the same day MPs failed again to elect a new president.

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin praised dialogue among the Lebanese parties, considering it a necessity to combat the challenges and risks that the country is passing through.

“Foreign countries support the dialogue, in particular because it is touching on local and regional issues, in the first place the battle against terrorism and extremism,” Zasypkin said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday.