Naharnet Newsdesk - Hariri, Berri Meet, Consensus Not Achieved

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Hariri, Berri Meet, Consensus Not Achieved

Majority and opposition representatives Mp Saad Hariri and Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, respectively, have reviewed a list of six presidential candidates proposed by Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, but failed to agree on a consensus runner for the nation's top post.
A statement issued by Hariri's press office said the two discussed "the presidential election in light of the list proposed by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir within the framework of the French initiative that enjoys Arab and international backing."

It said the talks were positive and "enhanced the chances of reaching consensus on the presidency in order to usher Lebanon into a new era of stability and allow tackling the pressing issues of the Lebanese people."

Berri and Hariri, the statement added, agreed on keeping "their consultations open until the election of a consensus president chosen from the candidates included in the list proposed by Patriarch Sfeir and within the constitutional time frame," which expires on Nov. 24.

The daily newspaper an-Nahar quoted sources close to Berri as also saying the talks with Hariri were "positive and enhanced the chances of reaching consensus."

Sfeir's list included the names of presidential candidates Nassib Lahoud, Butros Hard, Michel Aoun, Michel Edde, Robert Ghanem and Michel Khoury.

Lahoud and Harb are the official candidates of the March 14 majority coalition.

Aoun, who heads the Free Patriotic Movement, is reportedly backed by the Hizbullah-led opposition.

Edde Ghanem and Khoury are classified as independent candidates and, theoretically, consensus between the feuding majority and opposition is expected to be reached on one of them.

However, informed sources said Hizbullah has rejected Ghanem and Khoury and the March 14 alliance has rejected Edde.

A well informed source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Naharnet: "This keeps us in square one."

The March 14 alliance, according to the source, "insists on adhering to the French initiative, the process of which includes Sfeir's list of candidates for consensus on one of them."

The opposition, which is backed by Syria and Iran, "appears to be heading to rejecting the French initiative and calling for consensus on another candidates who were not included in Sfeir's list," the source explained.

He noted that ex-minister Suleiman Franjieh, a prominent opposition figure and close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, proposed on Friday achieving consensus on a candidate who is not included in the Patriarch's list.

"This is a clear indication that the opposition does not want to commit itself to the French initiative," the source said.

An-Nahar newspaper quoted parliamentary sources as saying that if the impasse persists that could lead to postponing a parliamentary session scheduled for Wednesday to elect a successor to President Emile Lahoud, whose extended term in office expires on Saturday.

A second round of talks between Berri and Hariri is probable on Sunday prior to Hariri's departure for Moscow for a meeting with Russian President |Vladimir Putin, according to an-Nahar.

The report said the Russian President wanted the meeting with Hariri to be held prior to the Parliamentary session scheduled for Wednesday.

Beirut, 18 Nov 07, 20:32


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