A US envoy urged feuding Lebanese politicians on Saturday to elect a new president to restore "dignity" to a position vacant for three weeks, as France warned a vote set for the coming week is the "last chance" to resolve the crisis.
"The United States believes that it is time now to elect a new president," US Middle East envoy David Welch said in Beirut, ahead of a new session of parliament called for Monday after eight attempts to elect a president failed. "It is time for this process to be completed. There is no reason for any further delay," he said.
"We believe that members of parliament must fulfil their duty... to restore dignity and respect to the most important Christian office," Welch said. "We know there are many pressures from within and from outside, but the American people and the administration will support Lebanon," he said.
Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud stepped down on November 23 without a successor in place, triggering the country's worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. The Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has been unable to reach agreement with the Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition on a replacement for the pro-Syrian Lahoud.
Welch held a one-hour meeting with pro-opposition parliament speaker Nabih Berri, during which he said he "made several points to the speaker", ahead of separate talks with Siniora and ruling majority leader Saad Hariri. Earlier, he met Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, spiritual leader of the Maronite Christian community from which Lebanese presidents are conventionally drawn, as well as Christian leader Samir Geagea.
Welch's previously unannounced visit came a day after a state funeral for senior army commander Brigadier General Francois el-Hajj who was killed in a car bombing on Wednesday. Hajj had been tipped to become army chief if a compromise plan to elect incumbent General Michel Sleiman as president is accepted by MPs on Monday.
Sleiman's election requires an amendment to the constitution which bars government employees from becoming head of state within two years of leaving their jobs. France, the former colonial power in Lebanon which has been heavily involved in international mediation efforts, warned the feuding factions and their foreign sponsors that time was running out for a solution. "Monday is really the last chance, and France calls on all parties, inside and outside, to ensure that Lebanon can have a president," President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday.
"Those (who) would take the risk of killing off that chance would cut themselves off from a number of countries, first among them France." On Thursday, US President George W. Bush accused Syria of "interference" in Lebanon and said this action must end.
Efforts to push through Sleiman's election have foundered amid demands by the Hezbollah-led opposition for agreement on the shape of the next government ahead of the vote. "We want a consensus president as part of a full basket... All we are talking about is the cabinet which must represent all parties and confessions," deputy Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in comments published on Saturday.
The opposition pulled its six ministers out of the cabinet in November last year, demanding a national unity government to replace Siniora's cabinet which they consider illegitimate.
Comments
Comments are closed.