Berri puts off 18th scheduled session to elect president - Speaker reiterates call for dialogue
Source: Daily Star, 23-04-2008
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday announced the postponement of the latest scheduled session to elect a new president for Lebanon amid continuing political deadlock in the country. The speaker did not assign a date for the next session. Berri made the announcement on state television but reiterated an invitation to the country's rival factions to hold talks on the formation of a national unity government and a new electoral law under his auspices.
"If they agree to dialogue, together we will set a date for the vote," Berri said, adding that he would set the date for a new session himself if he did not get a positive response to his appeal.
The 18th attempt to elect a president was postponed despite the presence in Parliament of a number of MPs from the rival groupings, which Berri said did not reach the required two-thirds quorum to hold the vote.
Tuesday's session had not in any case been expected to lead to a breakthrough in the 16-month standoff.
Before the announcement, Berri had held a closed-door meeting with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, a key figure in the ruling coalition.
"We hope for a positive response to Berri's initiative, and if they don't want the dialogue, they should tell us what our other options are," said Ali Bazzi, an MP of Berri's Amal Movement.
The ruling coalition has previously rejected Berri's offer to host talks, saying that as a leading member of the opposition, the speaker is not capable of being an impartial mediator.
The ruling alliance claimed dialogue should only be held under the auspices of a new president.
Lebanon has been without a president since late November when Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his mandate.
Meanwhile, Arab League chief Amr Moussa was quoted by the Saudi daily Al-Madinah on Tuesday as saying that he was planning to visit Beirut and Damascus soon to discuss facilitating the implementation of the Arab League's three-point initiative to end the Lebanese crisis.
Moussa said the discussion of the Lebanese crisis in Kuwait on the sidelines of a conference of Iraq's neighbors would not result in any decisions.
"The discussion only aims at exchanging ideas regarding the Lebanese crisis," he added.
Also on Tuesday, Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh met with Iranian Ambassador Ali Reza Shibani to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon.
Shibani said after the meeting that Iran was ready to play a mediatory role between Syria and Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate a settlement in Lebanon.
Riyadh and Damascus are at odds over the Lebanese crisis.
Saudi Arabia, which backs the US backed ruling coalition, had earlier blamed Syria for blocking Lebanon's presidential elections.
For its part, Syria has urged Saudi Arabia to pave the way for a settlement in Lebanon by exerting pressure on its allies.
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday announced the postponement of the latest scheduled session to elect a new president for Lebanon amid continuing political deadlock in the country. The speaker did not assign a date for the next session. Berri made the announcement on state television but reiterated an invitation to the country's rival factions to hold talks on the formation of a national unity government and a new electoral law under his auspices.
"If they agree to dialogue, together we will set a date for the vote," Berri said, adding that he would set the date for a new session himself if he did not get a positive response to his appeal.
The 18th attempt to elect a president was postponed despite the presence in Parliament of a number of MPs from the rival groupings, which Berri said did not reach the required two-thirds quorum to hold the vote.
Tuesday's session had not in any case been expected to lead to a breakthrough in the 16-month standoff.
Before the announcement, Berri had held a closed-door meeting with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, a key figure in the ruling coalition.
"We hope for a positive response to Berri's initiative, and if they don't want the dialogue, they should tell us what our other options are," said Ali Bazzi, an MP of Berri's Amal Movement.
The ruling coalition has previously rejected Berri's offer to host talks, saying that as a leading member of the opposition, the speaker is not capable of being an impartial mediator.
The ruling alliance claimed dialogue should only be held under the auspices of a new president.
Lebanon has been without a president since late November when Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his mandate.
Meanwhile, Arab League chief Amr Moussa was quoted by the Saudi daily Al-Madinah on Tuesday as saying that he was planning to visit Beirut and Damascus soon to discuss facilitating the implementation of the Arab League's three-point initiative to end the Lebanese crisis.
Moussa said the discussion of the Lebanese crisis in Kuwait on the sidelines of a conference of Iraq's neighbors would not result in any decisions.
"The discussion only aims at exchanging ideas regarding the Lebanese crisis," he added.
Also on Tuesday, Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh met with Iranian Ambassador Ali Reza Shibani to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon.
Shibani said after the meeting that Iran was ready to play a mediatory role between Syria and Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate a settlement in Lebanon.
Riyadh and Damascus are at odds over the Lebanese crisis.
Saudi Arabia, which backs the US backed ruling coalition, had earlier blamed Syria for blocking Lebanon's presidential elections.
For its part, Syria has urged Saudi Arabia to pave the way for a settlement in Lebanon by exerting pressure on its allies.
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